Daiso’s Crystal Opening ‘Largest in the United States’: Store Official
For a lot of retailers, breaking into a new market might be considered challenging.
But Daiso isn’t like most retailers.
“It’s more than just a store, I think, for a lot of people it’s really an experience,” said Michael Square, manager of the Crystal Daiso.
Minnesota’s first Daiso opened April 12 with lines wrapped around the building and people standing elbow to elbow inside.
“They did give us a little bit of warning that, you know, it’s popular and people were really excited,” said Square. “The social media presence for it alone, and the impressions they got were in the millions. So we knew it would be a big opening, but I think we were all surprised company-wide.”
It wasn’t just a big opening. Management says it was the company’s largest grand opening in the United States, with more than $60,000 in sales on Saturday alone.
“Just Daiso’s reputation, the word of mouth, and how people really feel about it,” Square said, when asked about the big crowds. “It has a big fan base, and I think that people are excited about it.”
A Daiso staff member shows off a collection of the store’s popular, plushy key chains.
Best sellers
What they’re excited about isn’t one thing in particular. The store sells a variety of Japanese specialty products — things like candy and snacks, plush toys, and home décor; all at a discounted price.
“What I’ve been calling it is like, an Asian Five Below kind of, but I would say, elevated,” said Meriah Hansen, a customer from Robbinsdale.
Daiso has plenty of items a person might need around the house, but some of the store’s best sellers are all about fun.
“Right here is definitely one of our most popular items in all of Daiso’s are, we call them blind boxes, these are plushy key chains,” said Neal Richards, a store manager from California who was helping with the grand opening.
Whatever it is that’s drawing people in, people who spoke to CCX News say they’re impressed with the selection.
“I’ve been looking at all the aisles, and I feel like it’s good quality stuff, so I don’t mind spending a few dollars on it,” said Hansen.
Considering that the retail space had been vacant for the last six years, shoppers are just happy there’s finally something here that’s drawing people to Crystal.
“I love it that it just adds something more special to Crystal,” said Hansen. “I feel like it’s already kind of like a hidden gem and so this will be nice for people to see what Crystal’s about, and it’s a cool location.”
Daiso has a couple of other new stores on the way. In the coming months, they’ll have new locations pop up in Maplewood and Woodbury.
Daiso’s Crystal location is located at 5632 West Broadway Avenue.
Related: Minnesota’s First Daiso Store To Open in Crystal
