When Harry Yoshio Masatani, longtime owner of Masatani’s Market in Guadalupe, died on Sep. 30 at the age of 99, he left a legacy of generations who link the Masatani name with warmth, service and perseverance.

Masatani's Market, founded in 1922 by Harry’s father, Yeomon Masatani, stood as one of the oldest continuously operating businesses on the Central Coast until its closure in 2024, more than a century after it first opened its doors.

Brian Masatani, Harry Masatani's son, spoke recently about his father’s ties to Guadalupe, which spanned most of his lifetime.

“My grandfather (Yeomon) started in 1922, so my dad was the second generation to run it (the market). We’re Japanese, so after World War II he served in the military and then was going to UCLA and fooled around a little bit her

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