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Dive Brief:

• Apparel retailer Uniqlo will expand its footprint with 11 new locations in the U.S. in 2026, the company said in a Monday announcement sent to Retail Dive. 
• The retailer will open two stores in Chicago, one in San Francisco and four additional stores in New York City. 
• Other locations include Boston, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and Annapolis, Maryland.

Dive Insight:

Twenty years ago, Uniqlo launched its first flagship store outside of Japan in SoHo. Now, the company is accelerating its presence. 

The upcoming Chicago and San Francisco locations mark the retailer’s first flagship stores outside of New York City in the U.S. 

“These new stores are not only a milestone of our growth, but a way of honoring the customers who welcomed us two decades ago and continue to inspire everything we do,” Fuminori Adachi, Uniqulo’s USA CEO, said in a statement. “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.” 

Upcoming locations will feature RFID self-checkout, alterations and Re.Uniqlo donation bins. Select stores will offer customizable T-shirt and tote bag services along with embroidery and repair options. 

Two years ago, the company announced a goal to have 200 stores in North America by 2027 as a way to accelerate its international growth. The retailer is more than halfway there, with 76 locations in the U.S. and 32 in Canada. Part of that strategy relies on leveraging RFID technology to improve supply chain management to drive digital innovation. 

In its latest quarter, Uniqlo International reported that revenue increased 8.3% to nearly 443 billion yen (around $2.9 billion), with North America reporting higher revenue and profit, according to parent company Fast Retailing.