A Uniqlo store in Beijing. Photo via Shutterstock.
In January, Uniqlo announced its first round of store openings for 2014—five locations spread across California, Connecticut and Philadelphia. Today, the Japanese chain announced that it will open six stores in Boston over the next year (prepare for a Heattech onslaught!) and three in Philly. Plans are still on for additional NY, New Jersey, Connecticut, San Fran and SoCal stores. The Boston locations are as follows: Faneuil Hall (pop-up to open in July, with a perm store to follow), Natick Mall and the Mall at Chestnut Hill (August 29), the Northshore Mall (September 19), Legacy Place (October 24) and a Back Bay flagship on Newbury Street (Spring 2015).
In Philly, stores will open in Center City, the King of Prussia Mall, and the Willow Grove Park Mall. As Uniqlo's CEO told Racked last month, "The US is an important market...I'd like to be the retailer of choice for consumers." Of the Philly expansion, he said, "Opening in Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy, is a proud milestone for UNIQLO."
· HUGE: Uniqlo Announces Plans to Open SIX Boston Stores [Racked Boston]
· Japanese retailer Uniqlo expanding to Boston [Boston Globe]
· Uniqlo Maps Out U.S. Openings [WWD, sub req]
· How Uniqlo Plans to Become America's Top Retailer [Racked]
· Urban Outfitters CEO Says Brand Has Been Full of Misses [Racked]
· Uniqlo to Offer Larger Sizes in the US [Racked]
· Uniqlo Confirms Five New US Store Openings This Spring [Racked]