Dae Soon Kim, the founder of Kim’s Home Center in Koreatown, passed away earlier this month, the decades-old household goods store announced Saturday. He was 91.
“It is with heavy hearts that we remember Dae Soon Kim, founder of Kim’s Home Center, husband, father, grandfather, and a pillar of the Koreatown community,” the store said in an Instagram post.
Kim’s Home Center opened in 1979 and has remained a family-owned business ever since. Located near Olympic Boulevard and Fedora Street, the two-story store with a colorful tiled exterior is sometimes described as the Korean version of an Ikea or a “mini Korea,” selling thousands of items, ranging from clothing and K-beauty products to rice cookers and kimchi refrigerators.
Many families in Southern California have gone there to stock up on Korean household essentials, such as rubber dishwashing gloves, house slippers, blankets and electric heating pads.
“For generations of Korean-American families, Kim’s Home Center became more than just a store. It became a part of their lives and a connection to home,” the store said. “We are humbled to see how his hard work, dedication, and commitment have helped shape the business we are today, a beloved staple in Koreatown and beyond.”
Kim’s Home Center at 2940 West Olympic Boulevard is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Earlier this year, the store also launched a limited online store.
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