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Uniqlo is returning to Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and the first 500 people in line are getting rewarded.
The Japanese retail giant is poised to reopen a flagship store at 600 N. Michigan Avenue this Friday, March 27, marking its return to the Mag Mile four years after it shuttered a nearby location.
Opening weekend will see Uniqlo embracing the community with giveaways. The first 500 people in line each day March 27-29 will receive a free Garrett Popcorn tin, a tote bag with art by JC Rivera and a treat from Del Sur bakery. App members can redeem a free iced Strawberry Sakura Matcha Latte by Nekhama and Kurimu, and those attending the March 27 opening can enjoy a traditional Japanese taiko drum performance at 9:50am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm. There will also be special discounts on some apparel through April 2.
Additionally, shoppers will have early access to the Roger Federer collection and can find exclusive designs inspired and created by local artists, including JC Rivera, Louis De Guzman, Elena Fiorenza and aplasticplant, as well as products inspired by the Art Institute of Chicago's collection.
The new flagship isn't just a recommittment to Chicago. The store is part of a broader expansion that Uniqlo announced at the start of the year, one that encompasses 11 new locations across major cities from New York to Seattle. But the Magnificent Mile store is one of just a handful of flagship stores outside New York City, representing a renewed bet on brick-and-mortar retail.
The store will be located on the lower levels of the building, offering a modernized shopping experience with self-checkout stations, alteration options and clothing recycling through the RE.UNIQLO program.
The reopening arrives at a moment when the Magnificent Mile is actively reinventing itself. Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Gap is reportedly in advanced talks to return to the Magnificent Mile, eyeing a new store at 700 North Michigan Avenue almost five years after the retailer closed its longtime flagship.
Whether brick and mortar retail shopping will ever recover remains to be seen, but until then, we'll never say no to reasonably priced apparel that pays home to Chicago artists. See you in line!
For more information about Uniqlo's opening weekend, click here.