Daimaru Ashiya will complete its first full-store renovation in five years and hold its grand opening on Friday, August 28. According to Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co., Ltd., the renovation, carried out in stages since last December, will now transform the entire store.
A total of 11 new shops will open, including 2 shops making their first appearance in Japan and 3 making their first appearance in the Kansai region. They are spread across a "Lifestyle Zone" that adds color and beauty to daily life, a "Refined Style Zone" for adults who value their own individuality, and "Refined Food Merchandise" that makes a perfect companion for rich and enjoyable moments.
Daimaru Ashiya holds its full-store grand opening on August 28
Daimaru Ashiya has adopted "Ashiya Marché: Everything in This Town's Daily Life Is Here" as its store concept. It aims to be reborn as a store that fosters attachment among people who live in Ashiya and lets them "experience a new Ashiya."
The renovation tagline is "To Ashiya, to you, to tomorrow."
The store is strengthening three points: "encounters," "daily life" and "services." In the cosmetics department, the number of brands and products has been greatly increased, and brands making their first appearance in the Kobe-Ashiya area have joined. To enrich time spent at home, items that add color to daily life, such as pet goods, specially selected tableware and art flowers, have also been expanded. In addition, thoughtful services are offered, such as a service at DEPACO that lets customers choose from a wide variety of ribbons and a fitting room in the pet goods department.
11 new shops arrive, including first appearances in Japan and the Kansai region
In this full-store renovation, about 40% of the sales floor area, centered on the 1st and 2nd floors, has been remodeled, and a total of 11 shops are opening as new tenants. Many shops that add new appeal to life in Ashiya are arriving.
New shops on the 1st floor
Dammann Frères lumière: Where a long-established tea house meets French cuisine
Opening on Friday, August 28, Dammann Frères lumière is a tea salon and boutique born from a collaboration between the long-established French tea brand Dammann Frères and the French restaurant lumière, led by Chef Yasushi Karato. It offers more than 60 kinds of tea and sweets made with Dammann Frères tea leaves.
First in Kansai: Prunier, a caviar house founded in 1872
Also opening on Friday, August 28, Prunier is a long-established caviar house founded in 1872, making its first appearance in Kansai. Its in-house-managed French caviar is made with the pure-salt method, seasoned with salt only and without additives, and delivered by air. The classic fresh caviar "Prunier Caviar Tradition" is also offered.
First in Kansai: Aroma Truffle, luxurious truffle chips
Aroma Truffle, which already opened on Wednesday, June 17, is also making its first appearance in Kansai. Its truffle chips, made only with black truffles from contracted farmers in Umbria, Italy, are suggested as a luxurious accompaniment to tea or a snack to go with drinks. Popcorn, financiers and more are also in the lineup.
Chihiro Kashiten: A baked sweets specialty shop devoted to ingredients
Opening on Friday, August 28, Chihiro Kashiten is a specialty shop that pursues "truly delicious baked sweets made with carefully chosen ingredients." It offers sweets such as financiers, cream puffs and baumkuchen, developed to be "so delicious you want one more."
First in Japan: CHIHIRO the CHOUX, starring rare "Rare Salt"
Also opening on Friday, August 28, CHIHIRO the CHOUX is a new-format brand from Chihiro Kashiten, and this is its first store in Japan. Starring a rare "Rare Salt" that makes up only about 0.001% of the seawater of Awaji Island, it offers sweets including cream puffs.
DEPACO's first physical shop: A cosmetics information medium becomes a real store
Opening on Friday, August 28, this is the first physical shop of DEPACO, the cosmetics information media and online store operated by Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores. A total of 29 brands gather in one place, and the tester corner features recommended products for each season. Brands not carried at Ashiya can be purchased on the DEPACO online site, and a free-shipping "in-store pickup service" is also available. A wide range of custom wrapping services is also prepared.
New shops on the 2nd floor
First in Kansai: Paddy by WAFONA, a space for pets and their owners
Paddy by WAFONA, which already opened on Wednesday, January 21, is making its first appearance in Kansai. Under the concept "They are family, so we want them to stay healthy for as long as possible," it presents items that make life with pets healthier and richer. A fitting room for small dogs and an entrance exclusively for customers accompanied by pets have also been newly established.
Emilio Robba: One of the largest art flower brands in western Japan
Emilio Robba, which already opened on Friday, February 27, is an art flower brand founded in Paris by the flower designer Emilio Robba, known as the "sculptor of flowers." It is laid out on one of the largest floor areas in Japan (the largest in western Japan), and is characterized by its high quality, which expresses even the texture, color and freshness of petals. Art flowers are also displayed and sold in various places throughout the store.
Ottica Ricco: An eyewear salon of well-liked glasses from Japan and abroad
Ottica Ricco, which already opened on Friday, December 12, is an eyewear salon whose name means "rich eyewear shop" in Italian. It gathers well-liked glasses and sunglasses from Japan and abroad to support a rich eyewear life. It carries brands such as TIFFANY, GUCCI, FERRAGAMO, CHOPARD and RAY-BAN.
LIVÉA TABLE: Specially selected tableware that brightens life in Ashiya
LIVÉA TABLE, which already opened on Wednesday, January 28, specializes in specially selected tableware for Ashiya customers who value life at home. It gathers tableware from about 30 brands, including Fukagawa Seiji, Koransha, Gen-emon, Tachikichi and Okura Art China.
MEGRÜS: Contributing to a sustainable society through brand-name goods buyback
MEGRÜS, which already opened on Friday, December 12, is a specialty store that buys back brand-name goods. It aims to contribute to a sustainable society by having valuable items passed from person to person and cherished for a long time. It is run by a joint venture established by J. Front Retailing and KOMEHYO.
"Ashiya Tayori," an event space created with customers
Next to the escalators on the 1st floor, a new event space created with customers, "Ashiya Tayori – ASHIYA TAYORI –," is being established. Its concept is "a place that connects people with people, and with food."
Delicacies from Ashiya and from all over the country are delivered as seasonal letters, and the makers' stories are introduced in the store. When customers drop a message into the mailbox provided, it is delivered to the maker.
5 shops reopen after renovation
In this renovation, 5 existing shops also appear in a new look. On the 2nd floor, FEILER becomes a shop where customers can choose products at leisure, and at Intermode Marché, the brand Maxine, loved by Ashiya customers, will be permanently on display.
On the basement level, where everything from fresh food to prepared dishes is available, two shops, Okowa Yonehachi and Rubian, have been renovated. These reopened in stages from last December through February of this year.
