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PHOTOS: UNIQLO now open at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby

With a ceremonial hammering of two traditional sake barrels, UNIQLO Metrotown is ready to open its doors to the public Friday, October 6, 2017 at 10 a.m.

The 20,800 sq ft. store is spread over two levels at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby, occupying part of the former Home Outfitters space near T&T Supermarket.

The store is the first in Western Canada for the Japanese retailer, and a new brand campaign called “Natural Union” is helping to familiarize locals with UNIQLO, by highlighting Metro Vancouver’s cultural diversity and spectacular natural surroundings.

The sake ceremony held on Thursday night is something the company does at new store openings around the world, in the hopes of bringing good luck and good fortune.

Yasuhiro Hayashi, chief operating officer of UNIQLO Canada, says the company is excited to offer apparel catered to local lifestyles, including jackets and outerwear perfect for our “Raincouver” fall and winter weather.

“The launch of UNIQLO in British Columbia represents another major milestone for us, as Canada continues to be an important focus for the company globally. This country’s cultural and climatic diversity represents the perfect platform for UNIQLO and our philosophy of LifeWear,” he said.

Expect line ups for UNIQLO tomororw starting at 6 a.m. at Metropolis at Metrotown. The shopping centre says the line up will start outside the entrance closest to NYX & the customer service ground level on Central Boulevard. Doors at that entrance will open at 6 a.m.

UNIQLO Metrotown store hours

Friday, October 6, 2017: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Thanksgiving Day: Monday, October 9: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

UNIQLO Metrotown opening ceremony photo gallery

Uniqlo Metrotown Burnaby grand opening
The Metrotown store less than 24 hours before its official opening.
Uniqlo Metrotown Burnaby grand opening
The Metrotown store less than 24 hours before its official opening.
UNIQLO’s Vancouver + Lifewear Natural Union marketing campaign.
Display at the new Metrotown store
Display at the new Metrotown store.
Menswear at UNIQLO Metrotown
Menswear at UNIQLO Metrotown.
Men's jackets
Men’s jackets.
UNIQLO mens socks
Gradient of sock colours for men at UNIQLO.
Men's pants
Men’s pants.
Traditional wooden boxes for sake
Traditional wooden boxes for sake.
Slim fit chinos
Slim fit chinos.
Customers shopping at grand opening ceremony.
HEATTECH parkas and outerwear
HEATTECH parkas and outerwear.
UNIQLO's HEATTECH line
UNIQLO’s HEATTECH line of thermal apparel.
UNIQLO kids clothing
UNIQLO kids clothing
UNIQLO kids clothing
Kids clothing.
Uniqlo traditional sake barrels
Traditional sake barrels.
Uniqlo Metrotown Burnaby sake barrel
Traditional Japanese sake barrel at opening ceremony. (Can confirm, the sake was excellent.)
Tadashi Yanai
Tadashi Yanai, founder and president of Fast Retailing, of which UNIQLO is a subsidiary, at the opening ceremony.

Uniqlo Metrotown Burnaby grand opening DJ

UNIQLO's Natural Union campaign.
UNIQLO’s Natural Union campaign.
Uniqlo Metrotown Burnaby staircase
Photos of Vancouver are located throughout the store. Scenes in Gastown and Railtown are pictured on this wall.
Floor map of UNIQLO Metrotown
Floor map of UNIQLO Metrotown
Uniqlo furoshiki
Customers who spend a minimum of $100 before tax on grand opening day will receive a free furoshiki.

UNIQLO MEETS VANCOUVER
UNIQLO MEETS VANCOUVER furoshiki cloth.

The two-level store is located near MUJI, surrounding the Grand Court at Metropolis at Metrotown.

First UNIQLO in Metro Vancouver

“We are extremely excited to share UNIQLO with the people of Vancouver. With the opportunity for outdoor adventures to world-class amenities, we hope that Vancouverites will embrace UNIQLO’s versatile and stylish everyday clothes that cater to their active lifestyle,” said Hayashi.

The Metrotown store is UNIQLO’s third store in Canada, and comes one year after their Canadian debut in Toronto. Since its beginnings in Japan in 1984, UNIQLO has grown to over 1,800 stores worldwide.

It has been rumoured that UNIQLO is also looking for a downtown Vancouver location, and that the retailer may move into a new retail space proposed to replace the rotunda at Pacific Centre.

UNIQLO founder Tadashi Yanai sat down with the Globe and Mail in 2016 after the opening of their first Toronto store, and said he believed that Canada could eventually support up to 100 stores.

“We tend to do a better job on the West Coast (with our U.S. stores). The West Coast is closer geographically to Asia,” said Yanai.

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Peter Meiszner
Peter Meiszner
Peter Meiszner is an experienced journalist and media relations professional, based in Vancouver. As founder of urbanYVR.com, he has been reporting on urban development across the Lower Mainland since 2016, and has also served as vice-chair of the Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee. In October 2022, he was elected to Vancouver city council and is no longer actively reporting for urbanYVR.

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