RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Chong Akiba, who spent nearly 30 years of her life running a Japanese grocery store on Richmond's Cary Street, has died. Tokyo Market, located at 3030 W. Cary St., is a grocery and convenience store that carries Japanese food, cooking supplies and more. On Tuesday, Jan. 14, Akiba's family announced her death in a statement posted to the store's Instagram. According to her loved ones, she died on Dec. 26, 2024, as a result of a ruptured brain aneurysm. "For almost 30 years, my mother poured her heart and soul into this business, creating a place where customers became friends and friends became family," the statement reads. "Her dedication and unwavering commitment to the community will be missed by all that knew her." Legendary rapper MC Lyte to perform in Richmond while uplifting local artists The market asked for patience as Akiba's family tries to navigate running the store without her. "As we grieve, we are working to ensure the business continues her legacy, though we may hit a few bumps along the way," the statement reads. "Thank you for your continued loyalty and understanding as we navigate this challenging time." The comments section on that Instagram post includes a variety of locals sharing their condolences and remembering Akiba. Commenters described her as "the highlight of [their] day," "a constant" in their lives and someone who "brought so much joy to Richmond." They shared heartwarming memories, with several people saying she always asked about their day when they visited the market and remembered things about them. "while living in rva as a student, i stocked my kitchen with japanese ingredients and when i was homesick, id swing by just to feel comforted," one such commenter wrote. "tokyo market is a place i think back to fondly and a piece of comfort for me when i felt so isolated being in virginia without a jp community around me. ms. chong left a huge impact on the community, as evident to this comment section. love to your family and everyone she impacted."