Line-up for the opening (Photo by Gustav Hoiland)
UNIQLO hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 6 to celebrate the opening of their first store in Seattle at Bellevue Square. The store is 16,000 square feet of retail space that will house the brand’s full assortment of men’s, women’s, and children’s collections. Attendees included Brian Surratt, City of Seattle Office of Economic Development Director; Gina Martinez Todd, Seattle Seahawks Corporate Partnerships; Jermaine Kearse, Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver; Kemper Freeman, Kemper Development Company; Larry Meyer, UNIQLO USA Vice Chairman; Lynne Robinson, Bellevue City Councilmember; and Consul General Masahiro Omura. The event featured a traditional taiko drum performance.
“We’re very excited that UNIQLO has decided to open its first Pacific Northwest store here, adding a growing international business presence to our already-booming retail sector. Welcome UNIQLO!” said Bellevue Mayor Claudia Balducci.
UNIQLO strongly believes in being active in the communities in which it operates. Before the opening, UNIQLO announced a partnership with the Seattle Seahawks. UNIQLO and the Seattle Seahawks will activate a youth mentorship program in the greater Seattle area throughout the season. UNIQLO has also partnered with Treedom, an organization that is committed to reversing the effects of deforestation in Cameroon, Africa.
UNIQLO opened its first store in Japan in 1984, and now has more than 1,600 stores worldwide. In the United States, UNIQLO currently has 47 stores. (end)