Earlier this month, reports circulated that Japanese mega-retailer Uniqlo -- whose popularity in the city has already been firmly established with a bustling Soho flagship and a well-received collaboration with Jil Sander -- was extremely close to inking a deal on a massive second New York flagship on Fifth Avenue. Today, WWD confirms that the retailer has signed the lease on the former Brooks Brothers space (pictured below) at 666 Fifth.
The move will make Uniqlo the proud owner of one of the most expensive pieces of retail real estate the city has to offer -- 89,340 square feet of Fifth Avenue extravagance, which the brand will no doubt fill with its signature inexpensive basics and minimalist separates, from denim to spring jackets. (Just to give Uniqlo fans an idea of the new location's size: The chain's current Soho outpost is less than half that -- about 36,000 square feet.)
In addition to winning fans with its reasonably-priced, simple pieces -- from dark denim to spring jackets -- Uniqlo has charmed the fashion community with its +J line, a collaboration with revered designer Jil Sander. To boost that popularity, the brand recently announced a new collaboration with Costello Tagliapietra on a line of chic dresses, set to launch May 20.
According to WWD's source, there's no word yet on when the new store will open, but 2010 seems highly unlikely.
