SAN FRANCISCO — UNIQLO returns to downtown San Francisco Friday morning with a new flagship at 801 Market Street, and the opening includes three days of giveaways and taiko performances plus a free Friday street festival on Ellis Street.
The store opens at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Opening-weekend hours are 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sunday. UNIQLO says customers hoping to be among the first arrivals may begin lining up as early as 7 a.m.
What do the first 500 customers get?
There are three different promotions, and the conditions are not the same.
The first 500 people in line each day Friday through Sunday receive a free UNIQLO knot bag containing assorted opening-weekend items. No purchase is required for that giveaway. Contents may vary, and supplies are limited.
Separately, the first 500 customers each day who make any purchase can receive a $15 Philz Coffee voucher. Customers making an in-store purchase of at least $99 before tax can receive a free travel case, also limited to the first 500 qualifying customers each day while supplies last.
How early can you line up?
UNIQLO says the queue may begin at 7 a.m. outside 801 Market Street. The line begins moving into the store when doors open at 10 a.m.; the retailer does not promise a particular wait time because that will depend on the crowd.
For anyone mainly interested in the free knot bag, Saturday and Sunday provide two more chances if Friday's first 500 fill quickly.
What is happening outside the store Friday?
A separate free grand-opening street festival runs Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets. UNIQLO says no purchase is required to enter.
The store also has taiko performances by SF Taiko Dojo at 9:45 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day Friday through Sunday.
SF News Today has not independently confirmed a separate SFMTA road-closure window for Ellis Street, so 11 a.m.–6 p.m. should be treated as the confirmed festival hours rather than the exact beginning or end of traffic restrictions.
What's the easiest way to get there?
Powell Street Station is the most direct rail stop. BART has a Market and Ellis entrance beside the opening-weekend area, and Powell also connects with Muni Metro. The nearby Union Square/Market Street Central Subway station connects underground to Powell.
BART does not provide parking at Powell Street Station, making transit considerably simpler than trying to park in the immediate downtown area.
What happens after opening weekend?
The special opening-weekend program runs through Sunday, Oct. 11. Regular store hours then become 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Sunday. UNIQLO's broader opening offers run through Oct. 15 while applicable supplies last.