KEEN opening Japan store this week
By Christina Williams
Sustainable Business Oregon editor
KEEN's classic Newport style sandals are already popular in Japan. The store opening in Tokyo Friday will introduce new styles.
KEEN Inc. announced it will open the doors of its third store on Friday in Tokyo.
The KEEN Garage Harajuku follows its hometown KEEN Garage in Portland and its Canadian Garage in Toronto.
"As a brand from the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., KEEN finds enormous synergy with the Japanese culture of community, innovation and enthusiasm for great playfulness," said Christa DePoe, KEEN vice president of global online and retail, in a press release.
KEEN products were introduced in Japan in 2004. Officials say the brand's iconic Newport sandals are popular in Japan. The new store will introduce styles already available in the U.S. but new to the Japanese market.
James Curleigh, KEEN's CEO since 2008, left the company abruptly last month to take a job as president of the Levi's brand.
KEEN has plans to move its Portland retail store, which opened in 2010, to a new building. In February, KEEN purchased the Pearl Building as a new headquarters for about $10 million. Grove said the company is targeting a move-in date during the fourth quarter of this year. The building, at 513 N.W. 13th Ave., will house KEEN offices and its retail outlet, the KEEN Garage.
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