Uniqlo, the Japanese retailer known for its monochromatic casual wear and accessories, is gearing up to significantly expand its U.S. physical footprint next year.
The brand will open 11 new stores across seven cities in spring and summer 2026, Uniqlo told Fast Company. The expanded fleet will include four new stores in New York City: three in Manhattan and an additional location in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.
The new locations come two decades after Uniqlo opened its first U.S. store in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood in 2006.
For fans of Uniqlo’s ultra-stretch jackets, Pufftech vests, and functional backpacks, it gets even better: The company is also planning new “flagship” locations in Chicago and San Francisco, along with additional stores in Seattle, Boston, Washington, D.C., and the Annapolis Mall in Maryland.
Uniqlo currently operates 78 stores in the United States. The new stores will add to that tally, putting its U.S. footprint closer in size to that of Inditex-owned Zara, the Spanish fast-fashion chain, which has roughly 97 stores in the United States. Both are still relatively small in comparison to U.S.-based rival H&M Group, which reported 754 stores across North and South America as of August 31.
Uniqlo’s leadership says the brand is not looking to open stores merely for the sake of planting flags in new territories.
“Our strategy is about thoughtful growth—opening the right stores in the right places—while ensuring every location reflects our customer’s voices and delivers a meaningful, high-quality experience,” Fuminori Adachi, CEO of the brand’s U.S. division, said in a statement.
Retail is facing headwinds in 2025
The expansion comes as many U.S. apparel chains have been struggling with declining foot traffic and sluggish sales.
Price-conscious shoppers, stung by sticker shock and an uncertain economy, are buying less or staying away altogether. Many consumers, especially younger ones, have turned to ultra-cheap e-commerce platforms such as Shein and Temu for their fashion fixes.
Some well-known apparel chains have culled their store counts or worse in recent years. U.S. retailer Gap Inc. announced in 2020 that it would close 350 of its Gap and Banana Republic stores. More dramatically, fast-fashion retailer Forever 21 wound down its U.S. operations after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March.
Apparel sellers are hardly the only chains impacted by a landscape reshaped by online shopping. Retailers from Starbucks to Petco have closed stores this year as they reassess their brick-and-mortar needs and redesign their storefronts for an era when in-store customers can no longer be taken for granted.
All of this makes Uniqlo’s announcement a welcome bright spot. Fast Retailing, the brand’s Tokyo-based parent company, saw its revenue grow 10.6% in the nine months to May compared to the same period last year, according to financial results announced in July.
The retail giant, which operates more than 3,600 stores worldwide—including some 2,500 Uniqlo stores—generated sales of 3.1 trillion yen ($21.42 billion) for its fiscal year ending August 31, 2024.
Where are the new Uniqlo stores opening?
The full list of new locations being announced by Uniglo are below.
New York
- Brooklyn: Williamsburg
- Manhattan: Union Square
- Manhattan: Bryant Park, Fifth Avenue
- Manhattan: World Trade Center
Illinois
- Chicago: 600 N. Michigan Avenue
- Chicago: Oakbrook Mall
California
- Downtown San Francisco: 830 Market Street
Massachusetts
- Boston: Downtown Crossing, 395-403 Washington Street
Maryland
- Annapolis Mall
Washington State
- Seattle area: Issaquah Commons
Washington, DC
- Georgetown Park: 3262 M Street NW
In addition to the above stores, the Austin American-Statesman last week reported that Uniqlo is planning to open a location in the Texas capital, citing a regulatory filing. A representative for Uniqlo declined to confirm the Austin location.
