>dollar store vegetables at ショップ99, ローソンストア100

Think convenience store meets dollar store meets corner grocery store.

Deep in the midst of Japan's recession, a new species of コンビニ (konbini)/コンビニ屋 (konbiniya) is fast emerging.

Watch these stores grow. Shop 99 (ショップ99) and Lawson Store 100 (ローソンストア100).

Truly a one-stop shopping just around the corner, no cars are needed, a bike suffices. More often, your own feet.

And cheap, cheap, cheap! It's as if the neighborhood 7-Eleven (セブン-イレブン), FamilyMart (ファミリーマート) or Circle K (サークルKサンクス) was only carrying dollar items and stocked chock-full with carrots, mushrooms, salad greens and cabbage each costing 99 yen (comparable to $1) plus tax.

ショップ99 and ローソンストア100 are doing just that. They are competing for the attention of the world-renowned frugal Japanese customers. Sounds like more regular convenience stores will be converting to the dollar, I mean 100円, store model.

***
I ain't tradin' turnips with nobody.
-- Lov Bensey, Tobacco Road