AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES IN IOWA THIS MONTH. IN TONIGHT’S PROJECT COMMUNITY, A NEW SHOP IN DOWNTOWN DES MOINES BRINGS SPECIALTY ASIAN HOME GOODS AND UNIQUE SNACKS TO IOWA. vlog’S NICOLE TAM TAKES US INSIDE. SHELVES ARE FULL OF UNIQUE ITEMS FROM ACROSS ASIA AT HATTORI ON WALNUT STREET. WE’RE HOPING TO OFFER HERE IS MORE OF LIKE A CURATED SELECTION OF ITEMS THAT WE PERSONALLY ENJOY, BUT ALSO WE THINK THE COMMUNITY WOULD ENJOY. NAM HULL AND TORI MYERS SPENT A LOT OF TIME PUTTING TOGETHER THE COLLECTION, FROM A JAPANESE WATER KETTLE TO A WALL FULL OF COOKBOOKS, CULINARY, ETHNIC ISH GROUP OF COOKBOOKS THAT THE AUTHORS HAVE TAKEN THEIR BLENDED BACKGROUNDS AS WELL, OR THEIR UPBRINGINGS AND THEIR HERITAGES, AND PUT THEM ALL IN ONE SPOT FOR YOU TO ENJOY. THERE’S MEANING BEHIND EACH ITEM. I HAVE A FEW KOREAN AMERICAN PRODUCTS THAT I’M REALLY PROUD TO BRING IN BECAUSE I’M HALF KOREAN MYSELF, INCLUDING KOREAN MADE JAMS, SKINCARE, AND SOAPS. THERE IS ONE ITEM WITH A SPECIAL MEANING. THE CUTEST THING IN THE STORE ARE THESE LITTLE DISH SCRUBBIES. MY MOM MAKES. THEY’RE JUST A LITTLE KOREAN PASTIME. THEY’RE HAND CROCHETED. MOST PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT CULTURE THROUGH FOOD. THESE HANDCRAFTED GOODS ARE ANOTHER WAY TO SEE THE ART OF CRAFTSMANSHIP. THE SHOP HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE MID-MARCH, AND THE OWNERS SAY IOWANS HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE, BRINGING SOMETHING SPECIAL TO THE CITY. I THINK HOPEFULLY IT’S ABLE TO REFLECT ON LIKE THE DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITY. SO WHETHER YOU’RE STOPPING BY TO SHOP, LEARN SOMETHING NEW OR JUST STOPPING BY TO SAY HI TO THE SHOP DOGS MILES AND PIA, THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT HATTORI. NICOLE TAM, vlog EIGHT NEWS. IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. LAST WEEK WE INTRODUCED YOU TO THE MAKER OF AN APP CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH LOCAL CUISINE. AND YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH ON vlog WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP.
Central Iowa shop offering unique Asian home goods
There's meaning behind each item on the shelf
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Updated: 10:33 PM CDT May 11, 2025
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Shelves are full of unique items from across Asia at Hotori on Walnut Street in Des Moines. "What we're hoping to offer here is more of like a selection of items that we enjoy, but also we think the community would enjoy," said Nam Ho, Hotori Market. From a Japanese water kettle to a wall full of cookbooks, Nam Ho and Torri Myers spent a lot of time putting together the collection. There's meaning behind each item on the shelf, including Korean-made jams, skin care and soaps. One item with special meaning are scrub sponges that were made by Myers' mom. "They're a Korean pastime, they're hand crochet," Myers explained. The shop has been open since mid-March, and the owners say Iowans have been very supportive. "Bring something special to the city. Hopefully it's able to reflect on, like, the diversity of the community," Ho said.The store is at 1417 Walnut St., Suite D in Des Moines, open every day except Monday.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Shelves are full of unique items from across Asia at Hotori on Walnut Street in Des Moines.
"What we're hoping to offer here is more of like a selection of items that we enjoy, but also we think the community would enjoy," said Nam Ho, Hotori Market.
From a Japanese water kettle to a wall full of cookbooks, Nam Ho and Torri Myers spent a lot of time putting together the collection. There's meaning behind each item on the shelf, including Korean-made jams, skin care and soaps. One item with special meaning are scrub sponges that were made by Myers' mom.
"They're a Korean pastime, they're hand crochet," Myers explained.
The shop has been open since mid-March, and the owners say Iowans have been very supportive.
"Bring something special to the city. Hopefully it's able to reflect on, like, the diversity of the community," Ho said.
The store is at 1417 Walnut St., Suite D in Des Moines, open every day except Monday.
