Inside Seattle’s Spectacular Uwajimaya Flagship Remodel

Seattle’s iconic Asian grocery chain Uwajimaya recently partnered with the architecture, engineering and design firm Cushing Terrell to revitalize its 59,416-square-foot downtown flagship store. “We’ve been meticulously focused on reimagining our Seattle store with elements that revolutionize the shopping experience while keeping the deep connection to our rich 90-year history,” said Uwajimaya CEO Denise Moriguchi in a statement.

With the goal of helping the nearly 100-year-old brand embrace experiential retail, Cushing Terrell sought to showcase the quality of Uwajimaya’s products, including its unique Asian-inspired offerings in produce, meat and seafood.

The renovation sought to further enhance the retailer’s brand and reputation as the premium purveyor of pan-Asian goods, while modernizing and enriching the in-store experience. Cushing Terrell’s store layout updates “focused on improving sight lines and overall navigation with enhanced lighting, signage and more intuitive product adjacencies,” said Kara Eberle, project manager.

The layout of the newly remodeled store was designed to be easily understood by new customers hoping to explore Asian cuisine without alienating Uwajimaya loyalists who have shopped at the store for generations, says Cushing Terrell. With the remodel, Uwajimaya also wanted to highlight its unique housewares and health and body care offerings.

Highlights of the remodeled Uwajimaya store include a new sashimi island and poke bar; a demo station; increased access and availability to grab-and-go offerings; expanded deli offerings; energy-efficient refrigeration, equipment and lighting; and more.