First Look: Uniqlo continues U.S. expansion in California
Uniqlo’s North American expansion is heating up in the Golden State.
The global apparel retailer, part of Japan’s Fast Retailing Co., recently opened in Brea Mall, Brea, Calif. The new location, which spans 8,493 sq. ft., is Uniqlo’s 25th store in the state and 14th location in Southern California.
The Golden State is a priority market for Uniqlo’s national expansion plans — one that is ripe for the company to learn from.
“Uniqlo remains committed to thoughtful, long-term growth across North America,” said Tomo Yasuda, Uniqlo’s North America director of real estate. “The new Brea Mall location aligns with our broader strategy of identifying key markets where we can better serve customers and expand our presence."
Chain Store Age spoke to Yasuda, who shared a peek inside Uniqlo’s newest store, as well as the company’s overall expansion strategy.
What made California’s Brea Mall appealing?
Los Angeles is a critical market for Uniqlo, and this opening is part of our ongoing densification strategy in the region. Brea was a key opportunity in our strategy to increase our presence. With the nearest Los Angeles-based stores located in South Coast Plaza and Los Cerritos, we identified Brea Mall as a gap in our L.A.-area coverage. We’re excited to bring Uniqlo to Brea and improve access for customers in the surrounding communities.
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Interior of Uniqlo’s store in Brea Mall in Brea, Calif. (Image courtesy of Uniqlo) -
Interior of Uniqlo’s store in Brea Mall in Brea, Calif. (Image courtesy of Uniqlo) -
Interior of Uniqlo’s store in Brea Mall in Brea, Calif. (Image courtesy of Uniqlo) -
Interior of Uniqlo’s store in Brea Mall in Brea, Calif. (Image courtesy of Uniqlo) -
Interior of Uniqlo’s store in Brea Mall in Brea, Calif. (Image courtesy of Uniqlo)
What was the inspiration for the new store’s design?
The store is guided by Uniqlo’s global “help yourself” concept. The layout is designed so customers can easily navigate and find what they need on their own. The product is always the hero in our store environments — everything from fixtures to signage is designed to highlight the simplicity and quality of the clothing.
What features are you most proud of?
The store features several customer-focused elements, including RFID-enabled self-checkout and an in-store pickup counter for customers using our online platform. We also take pride in our alterations service. Each of these elements help us deliver a consistent, high-quality and streamlined shopping experience.
Where would you like to see the store from an experience perspective in the next 12–18 months?
We’ll continue to gather customer feedback and evolve our in-store experience accordingly. Our goal is always to make shopping more seamless, intuitive, and enjoyable — whether through improved digital integration, expanded services or visual merchandising updates.
How important is California within Uniqlo’s overall expansion strategy?
We’re encouraged by the performance of our newer stores, including our recent openings in San Diego and Sacramento. We plan to continue expanding across California, but we also remain disciplined and strategic in our site selection and timing to ensure each location supports our long-term goals.
What is the next step in your expansion strategy?
We’re continuing to grow throughout this season and the rest of the year. Our focus remains on identifying strong markets and thoughtfully bringing the Uniqlo experience to more communities across North America.
