MUJI has opened its first location in the Pacific Northwest in Portland. As the brand's second largest store to date in the US, the flagship will include a number of special features and local partnerships, reflecting both the design legacy of MUJI and honoring the rich landscape and creative community that make up the city of Portland.
"The opening of MUJI Portland marks a particularly important step for our expansion in the U.S.," stated MUJI USA President, Toru Akita. "Not only is it our first store in the Pacific Northwest, but this location also features a number of unique services created for, and in partnership with, the local Portland community which have never before been done at other MUJI locations in the US."
The MUJI Portland flagship will also be distinguished by its design, led by the renowned Japanese firm Super Potato. Super Potato is a longtime global collaborator for MUJI, having designed the MUJI hotel in Shenzhen and flagship stores globally; MUJI Portland is the firm's second project for MUJI in North America. Super Potato incorporated a number of unique design elements specific to this store location, including the use of reclaimed wood from Oregon and the preservation of the historic Meier & Frank Building's original architectural characteristics, which can be seen throughout the store. The design firm also created a custom floor plan featuring 'diagonal merchandising,' as opposed to traditional aisles of vertical shelves, which allows customers to easily view the full contents of the store.
Photography: David Papazian