TESO Life: A New Japanese Department Store! | Retail Archaeology
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- In this episode of Retail Archaeology we check out TESO Life, a new store chain that carries a wide variety of Japanese products.
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That isn't Terry's sweat, that's the tears of his enemies. lol
I just want to say your channel is a real pick-me-up on days when I’m feeling down and excessively angry, really appreciate everything you do
i second this!
Same here!
Watching this video, I half expected to see Homer on a Mr. Sparkle box.
The miniature rooms really took off in 2020 when people were home on lockdown. Theres a lot of variations and other companies, but that brand is one of the best and most well known.
i really like this video! living in queens teso has been a mainstay here for a while. quick correction, although teso calls themselves a japanese retailer, and many of the items they sell are indeed imported from japan, they’re actually new york based and run by chinese americans (their website is in chinese). they used to market to that crowd when it was one location in flushing and actually their front-door products consist of a lot of chinese toys alongside japanese ones, but now are trying to attract those interested in east asian products in general. i think theres a huge demand for them which is why they’ve been able to expand so rapidly. i say this because the emergence of stores like this ending in “-so” started with daiso, which IS a Japan-based dollar store, and a newer chinese retailer called Miniso got into controversy after calling themselves japanese (in attempt to align themselves with the Daiso crowd) and now call themselves chinese instead. some lore on these asian stores coming from someone who frequents them
Also can i just say this channel has the most aesthetic thumbnails. I notice everytime theres a new video ❤
You've added a cooking segment! 🍷🍷✨
Nice Shakey's Pizza glass. We lost our local Shakey's in the 1980's. Good Memories. :)
The carbonara buldak ramen in the pink packaging are so good
regarding the buldak noodles: there are 3 perforated triangles on the lid that help make draining the water much easier instead of just opening the lid and having to risk draining some noodles out of the cup
Good ol' Japanese (over?)engineering.
@@EGRJ this brand's Korean, but yeah lol
happy to see new content from you RA! Youre my favorite retail channel. really enjoy your content
My 12 year old son loves Teso because of all the Gundam there. My wife and I have fun there as well with the crane machines and the different flavor snacks. The chocolate orange kit Kats are awesome. I love the strawberry milk tea and their glass bottle flavored sodas, too, the ones with the glass ball in them. The Fanta orange and grape are awesome , and the orange tastes almost like orange juice and is lighter in color than the American one. Their sodas use real sugar too tastes much better. Some don't but most do there.
The ones with the glass ball inside are Ramune. During my first time going to the Arizona Matsuri a decade ago they would hold ramune drinking contest. At that time in the early 2010s Matsuri used to be the *only* place to get japanese food and non-grocery items that you wouldn't find at Lams Market. It wasn't until 2015 that I saw a boba shop for the first time in Phoenix. Now we got an official Asian district in Mesa and so many pop-up stores here with asian groceries, stationary and skincare.
The Kit Kats made my eyes go wide 😂. Usually, you can only find those flavors online, and we all know that trying to order chocolate online AND all the way across the globe is a recipe for disaster. I would need to be pried away from this store if I saw those, lol. Also, if they have stationary.
Asian grocery stores are the best..
They are. I am half Vietnamese and love going to Asian stores. I just wish my state had stores like these. We don’t even have a Diso.
@@MyDreamIsAStory agree. Where I live there are none 😔. But was in San Diego for a few years and loved going to ranch 99, Scion Market or Vien Dong.
I’m happy to see some getting chains in various forms like Daiso, H-Mart, Mitsuwa(unfortunately all in CA on that one! 😭) and so forth
Holy cow! When you questioned if the sea salt flavored soda was actually Terry Bogard sweat flavor, I did a spit take. By the way…LOVE the Shakey’s glass. “That’s awful.” LOL
My husband and I ordered 2 of those Rokr marble sets. They were a lot of fun to assemble, and they actually do work.
I am so jealous of that Kit Kat selection 😮
Should've had butterfinger bb's instead
The "regular" Kit Kats from France are as close to spiritual as any candy can get. I know I saw angels. Nothing like the US version. It's a double travesty that Hershey gets to foist over inferior product on the US and also that Nestlé is behind the good version. Why does it have to be THAT company? IYKYK.
I have seen some of that Kit Kat selection at FYE along drinks, & chips as well.
I just watched your Walgreens video and I subscribed just because of your intro. It’s so, so good. So retro and nostalgic. Now I am watching every one of your videos 😊.
I know I don’t “need” Kirby cosmetics, but I want them anyway, cuz they’re so cute!
Thanks for the heads up.
I live close to a Daiso but Teso is off my route to work. I’ll check it out!🎉🎉
The Buldak noodles are sooo good 😌 wish they had a store like that in California! I know we have a lot of smaller stores like Miniso and Daiso but a full scale department store seems so cool
check out 99 Ranch Market in southern california
Omg. They need to expand faster! I need one of these near me in Colorado! Please!!!!
I'm an American living in South Korea and it's fun to see all the Asian stuff now available back in the States. South Korea basically has their own version of all this or they import it from Japan. For example, Korea has some of the more exotic flavors of Kit Kat branded for South Korea, but Japan is still the king when it comes to variety.
The Baldak Ramen is really good if you like hot flavored ramen. The Carbona and hot sauce ramen is my kid's favorite flavor.
Korea like Japan has their own version of Doritos and Cheetos. While they don't taste like the American version they are still pretty good.
This was a nice change of pace. Thanks for uploading.
Not sure about Daiso, but Teso Life is Chinese owned/managed company selling “Japanese” products. Founder Andy Lin (from Fuzhou, China) arrived on tourist visa. Wish there was a YesStyle store in my neighborhood. 😂
Never would've guessed that Terry Bougart carbonated sweat from 1997 is terrible. I live in the west valley and that Tesolife is 47 mins away so I have to go there when I'm on that side of town.
I LOVE Rolife models. I have the mechanics garage and the bookstore fronts-so fun!!! Lots of wood pieces, everything slots together or else uses these small sticky tabs. Very fun, and so much less mess than traditional sprue, glue, paint models.
Great for ADHD folks such as me!
The cooking/tasting segment is adorable! Would love to see more of them. ❤
Those are Korean Fire noodles. Not from Japan. People used to do tons of challenge videos on eating these spicy noodles on RUclips. Like Matt Stonie using 15 packs of the spicy sauce.
Rose of Versailles cosmetics at 7:00
Apparently Denmark just recalled those specific noodles for being too spicy. So congrats on being more powerful than every Dane.
I really love this Channel, great production, really good insightful information about everywhere you visit, I just wish you could upload more videos more often but I know we all have real world stuff to deal with. honestly keep up the great work man!
Wow, so much bottled green tea in the first minute! I'd love one of these in my area. (oh and lol to the other thing on camera within the first 30 seconds 🤣🤣) Great job on the video as usual.
You really should do more of these TESO episodes where you also try a few of the random things you find that pique your interest, especially things have never had before!
I really enjoyed watching you review a few things from TESO, and if you decide to do it again don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to food. Maybe even try one of those LEGO like toys, or something you have to build, as they would also make for a fun episode of you building them after picking them up!
Plus why not?! I’m sure you would also love an excuse to try some of the things from TESO that you may not have other wise ever tried! Plus just a new, fun, but different kind of video for your channel!
Keep on crushing it dude! Really love watching a few of your videos in a row to decompress!
oh wow! i was shown this store in a tiktok that someone sent to me, but of course it was just an engagement farm and didn't actually tell me where the store was or what it was called; really glad to know it's an actual place in the Valley I can visit, thanks for making this video!
They literally have every single miniature room box I want. That sucks LOL! They need to put one of these on South Cooper street in Arlington TX. We have an Asian Market and an Asian Mall which I shop at often!
i *love* when you do a little taste test at the end!! i wish i had a teso near me now😕
OMG I was JUST there yesterday. I'm a huge sucker for Japanese makeup and skincare. 🌸
Facebook keeps advertising me the 85C Cafe next-door and I recommend checking out the pastries when it's not busy over there.
Thanks for covering and here's to hoping they open more locations.
If I may ask, is there a noticeable difference in quality between Japanese and US products for makeup/skincare? Ty
@@masterdecats6418 YES! The skincare is the best and way more affordable than America. I don't know what they sell here though.
@@masterdecats6418 Asian skincare is on a whole other level in comparison to quality and packaging. Especially with facial sunscreens, a lot of them don't feel greasy on my face at all and are over SPF50. For makeup I would check the brand Canmake, the packaging on their face powders looks like the brooches from Sailor Moon. I have the powder and lip tint. Heroine Make is serious on the waterproof mascara and eyeliner. ruclips.net/video/w4o3JuimGR4/видео.html
@@traceytrotter9934 At Teso life I got the Canmake Muchi Puru tint, I got a nudy peach shade and has a cooling feeling that I would get from some lip plumpers. They got The Creme Shop, Heroine Make, Peripera, Shiseido, Romand, and I think Cezanne? Other places irl to get Asian makeup is the Populous Beauty in Mekong, and that makeup section near the food court in HMart.
@@masterdecats6418 YES! Don't sleep on korean and japanese facial sunscreen, I love how so many facial sunscreens there are SPF50 instead of SPF30 (In Arizona you need at least SPF50) and it doesn't feel too minerally or thick when you apply it on your face. I love the Japanese makeup brand Canmake because the packaging is very cute and reminds me of Magical Girl anime. Their Muchi Puru lip tint is very balmy and helped my dry lips.
Other Asian brands I recommend are:
Daisique
Cezanne
Rom&nd
PeriPera
Etude House
ISEHAN
TESO just opened several months ago in my state, it’s really cool, I love the sticker machine they got, it’s similar to the Pokémon snap machine, I wish they got video arcades or Japanese vending machines, I’m not a fan of gambling machines.
I wish we had this up here in Canada....so much fun!
Buldak in the black package, and pan fry the noodles in sauce. Makes the rest of us cough but my son is the only one in the house who can stand it, and he loves it.
What a fun store! Thanks for sharing. I love your videos. 💛
I like these kinds of shops. Always makes me think I’ve been transported back to playing Shenmue on the dreamcast.
This store looks great. In southern California we're not hurting for japanese stores (Tokyo Central/Marukai, Daiso, Nijiya, Book Off, and more) but this one certainly has some stuff I haven't seen. Those Pantasy brick sets I haven't seen. Also, different countries do stuff even like Coca Cola differently. I think japan does a mix of real sugar and corn syrup. Mexico does only real sugar. US does only corn syrup. So they do taste slightly different, especially in their after-taste.
Before I get to the part when you try the "Sea Salt" flavored soda... considering that a big thing in Kingdom Hearts was Sea Salt ice cream... I strongly suspect that "Sea Salt" is a flavor profile like "Bubblegum" or "Blue Raspberry" here in the US... Just this past weekend I was reminded that a common flavor found in Sno Cones is "Tiger's Blood"... and that is a "tropical punch" kinda flavor with coconut mixed in... So I am intrigued.
One of these is opening up near me along with a 99 Ranch Market sometime next year. Your video has me even more excited now.
New subscriber
My husband always was watching you
You had me with this Teso video 😀
Ahhh, so cool! That kitkat section is awesome, and I hope one opens where I live eventually :D
There's a place very similar to this near Culver City, CA called the Mitsuwa Marketplace which is also where I learn UCC coffee is the BOMB
Grew up near one of those. I miss it.
Buldak ramen is actually Korean! I personally prefer the Buldak ramen that comes in the package over the cup one. As someone else said, the pink packaging carbonara one is really good (mostly because that one is the least spicy one and my stomach can actually handle it lol) but if you really like spicy, the one that comes in the black packaging is supposed to be the spiciest.
Great video Erik, good to see you back.
Do you have any plans to do a video on Round One at Arrowhead or Scheels at Fashion Center?
Thank you for letting me know there is one near me ill definitely be checking them out when i get the chance it looks amazing!
kudos for trying that soda. sounded horrible, not surprised it was actually horrible 😂thanks for sharing this spot!
Noodles are Korean and the drink is from China. I have never seen that brand in Japan before. Looks like they sell anything from Asia.
The company is Chinese owned out of Flushing, they have 2 or 3 locations there I think
Regardless, I wish we had one in our home town.
There’s an unfilled niche imo of foreign products that “worlds market” doesn’t fill.
Former employee, the owners and his wife are Chinese, and yes it's basically Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and some southeast Asian products
And? What is the issue?
@@donotreply8979Did they say there’s an issue? That said, video title says it’s a Japanese store but it it’s more of a general Asian market.
I found an Ebisu Life that opened in Maryland when looking up that Teso Life store that isn’t opened yet. Ebisu has a similar concept, so I’m going to check it out tomorrow. Thanks.
i've always watched your videos mainly while eating so it's fun to see a mini cooking section here
If you come to Queens theres a store called Teso X thats JUST the toys and claw machines and its super cool to look around
Jones Soda made a perspiration flavored soda as part of a limited edition 4 pack for the Seattle Seahawks. One of the other flavors was turf.
Turf? Did that taste like wheatgrass juice?
I like the spicy watermelon flavor
@mirjacastren3292 Thankfully, I only heard about it after it sold out. There was a TV interview at the bottler, and the interviewer tried some. He did not have a positive reaction.
@@mjdoombreed I’m not surprised. When I tried wheatgrass juice I found it was tolerable only when mixed with pineapple juice.
Very cool. Like this a lot. Thanks for showing me something new!
Buldak ramen, a UCC coffee, and a strawberry KitKat - that's a nice dinner! I wish we had one of these near me.
Whattt, I wish there was a Teso in my area! Thanks for sharing.
This looks so cool, The one near me is about an hour away but honestly looks worth the drive!
Those chocolate orange Kit-Kats are really good! Hope we'll get one of these stores out here where I live
I don't think I've been this early to one of your videos!
Cool store! I went to the thrift store the other day and it was more fun after recently watching a video about vintage shopping and dining in Japan for Showa era style and some 90's commercials from Japan. The new stuff is great too!
This was great. I hope they bring one of these to colorado.
This video was really cool!! Need more of this or more thrift store shopping please and thanks
Was just at this location the other week. They have a great selection of stuff that compares to some other lesser known places like kinokuniya USA bookstore locations.
That UCC coffee saves me on road trips when hotel coffee is gross and I don't feel like paying an arm and a leg for freshly brewed somewhere else. Also, next spring, be on the lookout for sakura flavor Kit-Kat. They're DELICIOUS.
Hopefully we get one of these in Texas. We're getting Daiso soon and I loved visiting those in Japan.
That particular brand of spicy noodles (the one you show off with the 2x spicy logo) was actually banned in Denmark for being "too spicy"
Thank you for helping me find good Japanese stores in the state.
This was nice and upbeat! As you say, usually it's a little depressing (though fascinating) seeing the demise of once great stores. Maybe this format has something to teach older franchises?
So this is like a Daiso but better. More higher quality stuff but also more expensive.
Daiso is a 100 yen store, no duh. That's like saying Walmart's quality is better than Dollar Tree's.
FYI, Teso Life is Chinese owned/managed company selling “Japanese” products. 😃 Founder Andy Lin (from Fuzhou, China), his brother/staff arrived on tourist visas.
Excellent video 📷📸 did they have a stationary section thanks 😊
UCC coffee mentioned!!! 😋
This type of shop is extremely popular in China! They sell everything from food to clothing to toys/DIY and makeup with a lot of character inspired goods. Miniso is probably the most well-known one. Three Coins and The Green Party are two other major chains in China but there's not much info on those in english. There were at least 3-4 other stores with the same type of retail concept in one mall (and all were full). The Rolife Kits, Legos and toys were all displayed in the same way.
As always great video 👍
Oh man. They have a website and they ship. This is awesome because the asian market not far from here in Morgantown, WV is shutting down. I make a lot of actual ramen so this store is a god sent lol.
6:07 the chocolate star snack is great. It not very sweet but it hit the spot when you want chocolate but you don't want to eat a lot. Also in downtown phx 8/30 - 9/2 2024 there an anime con called saboten that a lot of fun. If your need something to do check it out.
FYI, Teso Life is Chinese owned/managed company selling “Japanese” products. 😃 Founder Andy Lin (from Fuzhou, China), his brother/staff arrived on tourist visas. Lin’s crepe company run by his brother is also Japanese themed.
The Ranch 99 (Chnese market with pan-asian stuff) and Daiso (Japanese 100yen store) next door are worth checking out.
It pays to be a Retail Archaeology fan just to find out about cool stuff like this.
I love the concept of Teso Life and Daiso. People don't know how easy they have it today with these stores popping up without having to endure the smell of fish and every other scent of an Asian market and watching your mom clog up the aisle as badly as she clogs up the road while going 2 miles an hour in a 45 zone.
The fish section adds authenticity and a great selection of seafood 🐟 🦞 🦑 , seaweed and shellfish.
I really enjoy your videos. 😀👍🏻Will you be making another video on a dead mall or maybe go thrifting soon?
This store looks really neat. And I live in New Jersey, so it they open a store by where I live, I'll be sure to stop by to check it out.
I love that UCC Coffee with milk 😂 every time I go to Daiso I look for it.
Oh man, if I had one of those near me I'd be stocking up on that BOSS Coffee. I miss it so much from when I visited Japan!
I wish we had such a store where I live, something that feels a little more open to everyone. Most Asian related stores here are niche things that are located within those communities, so you feel like an intruder if you visit 😅.
This place looks pretty cool! I know you said they plan to open one in Oregon but I’m really surprised there isn’t one here near Seattle.
I NEED this in New England
That Shakey’s cup is so cool! Sucks that I can’t seem to find it online
The claw machines they have, do seem to by easier (well at least the one where I usually go). I notice the claw actually grips onto the plushie.
Ah im so jelly of anyone who lives near one of these or Daiso
Great business to be in given the current devaluation of the Yen relative to the US Dollar. Cool video.
I'll check out Teso next time I'm in Georgia
You got Korean noodles and Chinese drink. Pretty much any flavors they have this chemical flavor. Btw I saw weipa 6:00 red can, and blue can(dunno that flavor) this is something I could only get in Japan (I order it from there directly). There's a good mix of Korean and Japanese stuff. Cool store 🤙🏻
I would looooove to have a Japanese store close to me! We have Chinese, Thai, and Indian stores that are cool and do sell Japanese stuff as well but none that specialize.
I have to say, Japanese Coke is pretty good. There's two Teso Life stores around Dallas, I really like them (I buy Japanese Coke there). I doubt I'll ever have the opportunity to travel overseas, with my job and on my kind of budget, foreign stores like this help me get a vague taste of what it'd be like. There's loads of Daiso stores around Dallas/Fort Worth too (a new one recently opened making a total of 14 locations) so I have plenty of choices.
Figures, I look at their website and they're all about as far away form Michigan as possible.
This store feels like it was made for people like me, especially seeing they're a gunpla dealer.
Oh neat. There's one of these near me. For the Buldak hot noodles, I prefer the original 1X version. It is still very spicy but the flavor is just better. That was one of the secrets of the Buldak hot chicken noodles: they are hot but they also tasted really, really good. I was eating them long before the mukbang craze and it was actually fun watching eaters discover, whoa, this is actually really good. And hot. It's really hard to find things like that. As someone with Tabasco for blood, it is always disappointing when hot and spicy food turns out to be tap water boring or it tastes bad because they don't understand how to use spicy as a flavor. Ah well. Now I am hungry.
I wish we had this store in Utah
Yea, I don't think Sea Salt as a flavor for carb water is a great idea...if it's to be put in anything that isn't veggies, any carbohydrate side, and/or a protein, it only belongs in Sea Salt ice cream made with sweetened condensed milk. (I'm thinking of the Kingdom Hearts Sea Salt ice cream that the Twilight Town trio had at the end of the day in KH Days.)
...or even in caramel and chocolate.