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MUJI — a Japan-based store selling stationery, clothing, and household goods — held its grand opening ceremony in Harvard Square this past Friday.
Hundreds of people lined up outside of the 48 Brattle St. location on the cold morning, looking to be one of the first 300 customers to receive $10 gift cards. The grand opening featured a taiko drum performance and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Several high-profile Cambridge’s figures — including Mayor E. Denise Simmons and Harvard Square Business Association Executive Director Denise A. Jillson — attended the Friday celebration, which brings a major new retail site to the Square.
The store is housed in the historic Design Research Building, which formerly housed an Anthropologie that closed this past January after 14 years. The DSR features five stories and glass walls that showcase the interior, and was designed by American architect and Harvard Graduate School of Design faculty member Benjamin C. Thompson.
Simmons said that MUJI has used the building’s unique concept to showcase their products and bring life back into the previously open storefront.
“It brings vibrancy. The way the store is laid out, how it faces, has all the windows where people can see it and see the activity, so that’s number one. It really contributes to the streetscape,” Simmons said.
In a press release announcing the grand opening, MUJI USA president Richard Rappaport said that Harvard Square’s “culture, creativity, and connection” made it an ideal location for the new store.
“Our goal has always been to create spaces that feel welcoming and inclusive, where people can explore our thoughtfully designed products that enhance everyday life,” Rappaport said in the press release.
“This store is not just about retail, it’s about fostering a sense of connection, inspiration, and community right in the heart of Cambridge,” he added.
The Harvard Square location is MUJI’s second in Massachusetts, its first being on Newbury Street in Boston.
Sophia E. Brockney, a student at Northeastern University who attended the opening ceremony, said she thinks the Harvard Square store offers more space and variety than the Newbury Street location.
“I think it’s really nice, especially because there’s a little bit more room to add more items and expand on the ones that they already have in Newbury,” Brockney said. “It’s a little bit more open concept.”
Many customers noted the affordability of MUJI’s products, which Cambridge resident Leah S. Klein said is a draw for students at Harvard and other local colleges. The chain sells minimialist, unbranded household products, typically at low price points.
“It’s actually really good for students, just because the price point is really good,” Klein said. “And the aesthetic is very clean and small, perfect for a dorm or a new college apartment.”
Ashley Liu ’27, a Crimson Arts editor, said that MUJI offers students a convenient and affordable place to buy stationery and other school supplies.
“I think the easy access to stationery would be super great,” Liu said. “I love their pens. I love their notebooks. So, just not having to go to Newbury for new school supplies.”
