One of Japan’s biggest shoe retailers is opening two stores in Metro Manila before the end of 2025—bringing its signature shopping experience and wide roster of brands.
Sneakerheads, rejoice! No need to book a flight to Japan to shop for shoes. ABC-Mart, the beloved footwear retailer with over 1,000 locations in Japan, has officially announced its entry into the Philippines.
With two branches set to open this year, ABC-MART marks its second foray into the Southeast Asian market—with five stores already opened in Vietnam. Before entering Southeast Asia, ABC-Mart had only expanded outside of Japan to South Korea in 2003 and Taiwan in 2009. “Our entry into the Philippines is part of our strategic expansion plan in Southeast Asia. It’s a large and dynamic market for ABC-Mart,” shares Kiichiro Hattori, Vice President of ABC-MART, on their growth in the region. “We’re eager to bring the distinct retail experience and curated brand assortment to the style-conscious Filipino shopper.”
ABC-Mart has made itself ubiquitous in Japan’s shoe culture. Among its over 1,000 locations are strategic Grand Stage locations in key shopping districts such as Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Ginza. This placement of its flagship premium stores is repeated with its locations in South Korea, where Grand Stage stores can be found in Gangnam and Myeongdong.
The retailer’s Grand Stage concept focuses on delivering a specialized and upscale shopping experience through the sheer vastness of its brand inventory, combined with a youth-orientated mixing of fashion and culture. Each Grand Stage store usually follows a similar layout, with two “stages” serving distinct functions. The “center stage,” usually the front of the store, is a hub for the newest and most trending drops—think Nike and New Balance. This space also allows for events for specific brands such as product launches or campaigns.
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The “back stage” on the other hand, which can be the upper floor or the inner area of the store, has more interactive elements for customers. Here you might find a Kick-Pics Booth, where you can take photos with a pair of kicks you’re interested in to feel them out before buying them.
Infinity mirrors are also a common fixture in the fitting rooms, providing more photo opportunities for customers to incite engagement in-store and online through sharing on social media. Each Grand Stage location is also distinguished by its own signature mural, a long floor to ceiling artwork that provides character for each store.
For the Filipino market, our very own ABC-MART Grand Stage will open along Bonifacio High Street in BGC, Taguig. The location will span 750 square meters across two floors, carrying signature brands such as Nike, Adidas, ASICS, Puma, New Balance, Skechers, Timberland, Vans, Crocs, Salomon, and many more—focusing on offering top-tier curated collections and exclusive special releases. Details have yet to be revealed on the art style of the BGC location’s mural, or if it will have one at all.
The retailer’s entry into the local market is a joint venture collaboration with SONAK Retail Group, a retailer of sports, lifestyle, and fashion brands in the Philippines. Some of the brands they manage in the country include Onitsuka Tiger, ASICS, Molten, Mikasa, and Mueller.
A second location is also planned in Mitsukoshi Mall, also within the BGC distinct, befitting the brand’s Japanese roots. This standard concept store will cater to a wider, general audience, offering a variety of footwear and casualwear collections. Both stores are set to open by Fall 2025.
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