OSAKA - Major sporting goods retailer Alpen is opening Alpen OSAKA, one of the largest sports and lifestyle stores in the Kansai region, at the former Uniqlo site in Osaka's Chayamachi district, with six floors offering everything from running shoes and golf equipment to hands-on product testing.
The flagship store extends from the second basement level to the fourth floor above ground, with merchandise and experience areas designed to allow customers to test products rather than simply browse them.
A running shoe section is located near the entrance on the first floor, which focuses on sports products with strong everyday demand because of the floor's heavy pedestrian traffic.
The flooring in the running area uses the same type of surface material found at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka, allowing shoppers to test shoes under conditions designed to resemble an actual athletics track.
The basement floors include an extensive golf section carrying about 5,000 used clubs, ranging from drivers to putters.
The selection also extends to luxury equipment, including a golf set priced at 22 million yen. The retailer said there has already been interest from a prospective buyer in the high-end set.
Alpen said the store's biggest feature is its emphasis on allowing customers to experience products while shopping, rather than relying only on conventional displays.
The opening comes as Chayamachi has seen a series of changes among major retailers in recent years, including relocations and closures involving large stores such as Loft.
The district, however, has long played a prominent role in Osaka's fashion and cultural scene, and Alpen plans to use the area's location and identity to establish a new destination centered on sports and health.
A company representative said redevelopment is continuing across the wider Umeda area, with individual districts developing distinct roles and identities. Chayamachi, the representative said, was considered particularly well suited to a store built around sports and related experiences.
Alpen hopes the flagship store will become a new landmark in Chayamachi by combining retail with opportunities for customers to test and experience sporting goods firsthand.
Source: Television OSAKA NEWS
