Casual Clothing Retailer Adds 400 Jobs for Chicago Residents; Opening in Time for Holiday Season
CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–October 23, 2015. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Uniqlo USA Vice Chairman Larry Meyer today opened the company’s flagship Chicago location at 830 N. Michigan Ave. and announced that the store has created 400 jobs. The 60,000-square-feet flagship store is the company’s first to open in the Midwest.
“Uniqlo is a global company and a welcome addition to Chicago’s retail landscape,” said Mayor Emanuel. “The strength of Chicago’s economy is a draw for shoppers and tourists, and this store is opening just in time for the holiday season.”
“The Chicago store is most highly anticipated store opening since we opened the Fifth Avenue flagship back in 2012,” said Meyer. “We are rolling out the red carpet for this flagship offering the largest assortment of product, digitally savvy integrations, a Starbucks in store and local aesthetic to offer the best shopping experience for both tourists and Chicagoans alike.”
Youth from across the city of Chicago will benefit from the store’s opening, as Uniqlo is employing talented youth through its partnership with the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative. The Initiative brings together a coalition of leading U.S.-based companies committed to hiring at least 100,000 youth between ages 16 and 25 who are unemployed and not in school.
Earlier this year more than a dozen leading, U.S.-based companies formed the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative with the goal of being the nation’s largest employer-led coalition committed to creating pathways to meaningful employment for America’s young people. The coalition aims to bring economic opportunity to at least 100,000 Opportunity Youth – 16-24 year olds who face systemic barriers to jobs and education – by 2018 through apprenticeships, internships, training programs, and both part-time and full-time jobs.
Uniqlo’s Chicago storefront will feature a full range of casual wear for men, women, children and babies along with seasonal collaboration items. It will also feature a Starbucks location, and serve as an opportunity to test the Uniqlo’s new mobile app, aimed at making the shopping experience more convenient.
Source: www.cityofchicago.org