Kim’s Convenience is up for sale
By: Alisha Shaikh
(JasonParis/Wikimedia Commons)
Kim’s Convenience, the iconic store from the award-winning CBC sitcom of the same name, is up for sale. The real-life store that served as the exterior set for the show can now officially be bought for $200,000.
Kim’s Convenience is a CBC TV sitcom created by Ins Choi and Kevin White, based on a Korean Canadian family. The show first aired in 2016, and quickly became a fan favourite as it tells the funny and heartfelt story of the Kim family running a convenience store in Toronto while dealing with customers, family troubles and the evolving world around them. Co-creator Choi calls Kim's Convenience his "love letter to his parents and to all first-generation immigrants who call Canada their home."
Kim's Convenience is the first Canadian sitcom to feature Asian Canadian family members as lead characters. The cultural representation of the show has helped Canadian media immensely.
Media is often heavily dominated by America, but Kim’s Convenience breaks that notion, as it’s a perfect representation of Canada.
Canada is a country of immigrants, which Kim’s Convenience illustrates perfectly through the Kim family. The Kims are an immigrant family in Toronto making ends meet while battling racism in a middle-class lifestyle which accurately represents the common immigrant Canadian family. This also creates relatable characters and plots for audiences around the world.
Kim's Convenience, with a full Asian-led cast, gave visible minorities representation in mainstream media. Many racial minorities often face the challenge of being represented and engaged by a mainly Caucasian-dominated cast.
"The show’s diversity and representation have definitely helped Canadian media. Having so many Asian characters allowed viewers to see Asian people as people; layered, flawed, and normal. It was one of the first of its kind and it paved the way in Canadian media for more BIPOC-focused shows," said Lynette George, a fan of the show.
Kim’s Convenience has also given many Canadian actors more recognition and fame, such as Simu Liu, who is now known for playing Marvel’s first-ever Asian superhero, and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Andrea Bang, Jean Yoon and more.
The Kim’s Convenience store is a beloved spot and great for tourism in Toronto. Located at 252 Queen St. E, it’s a prime location that’s right in the heart of the city. Queen Street is known for the city's best restaurants, cafés, independent boutiques, street art and galleries.
While many fans are disappointed that the store is for sale, this may not mean the end of the Kim’s Convenience store.
"It's a Toronto landmark, so it'd be sad if it closed, but I doubt even if it sells, the new owner would change the name or sign considering it’s iconic and wildly famous," said Sam Dubiner, an optimistic Asian Canadian.
After five successful seasons, Kim's Convenience was abruptly cancelled in April 2021 when its’ co-creators decided to move on to pursue other projects.
Many people were unhappy and dissatisfied hearing about the cancellation.
"Kim’s Convenience was one show which I feel almost all immigrants related to, it was comforting while also showing the struggles of immigrants," said Dubiner.
Toronto is known for its diversity and multiculturalism, and Kim's Convenience accurately portrayed those aspects of the city.
"I think a large part of why the show did so well was the representation. There is such a rich, expansive Asian community in Canada, and particularly in Toronto, and the show was able to depict that perfectly," said George.
Kim’s Convenience has created a legacy that has impacted Canada and Toronto greatly. The sitcom represented minorities, portrayed the struggle of immigrants, gave rise to Canadian actors and has shown Canadian culture to the world. Although the show has ended and the store is for sale, Kim’s Convenience will never be forgotten.