Seibu Department Stores

The head store of Seibu Department Stores in Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo

The Seibu Department Stores, Ltd. (株式会社西武百貨店, Kabushiki-gaisha Seibu Hyakkaten) is a Japanese department store. The first store to trade under the name opened its doors in 1949. Seibu is typical of Japanese department stores with a wide variety of stores doing business on several floors. The company is now a subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd..

Japan

The Seibu Department Stores flagship store is located in Ikebukuro. In Tokyo, there are also stores in Shibuya and Yūrakuchō. There are 16 stores in the whole country, with about 5 billion dollars in annual sales. In addition to department stores, Seibu operates the specialty stores Loft, Shell garden, Parco and Muji. The Seiyu Group are companies of the Seibu Saison group.

Hong Kong

Seibu opened their first non-Japanese location in Hong Kong at Langham Place in but sold their operations to Dickson Concepts in 1996, but the store operated until September 2013 (the locations has since been occupied by Beauty Avenue). The company was a cornerstone of Hong Kong's retailing.

Indonesia

Seibu Department store Building in Central Jakarta, Indonesia

The first Seibu in Indonesia was opened in 1996 located near a busy bus terminal, Blok M, in Jakarta. It occupies over eight levels of upscale shopping experience with an atrium at the centre. The department store is operated by ALatief Corporation, a company which also managed a major local department store, then called Pasaraya Blok M. The two department stores are adjacent and a pedestrian bridge connects the buildings. However, due to its location, Seibu has failed to attract its targeted market and was closed down several years after its opening. The previously building occupied by Seibu is now called the East Wing of Pasaraya Grande, Indonesia's largest department store.

Indonesia's flagship store is making a comeback and open in May 2007 at Grand Indonesia Shopping Town. Occupying six levels of the west mall area, Seibu is segmented for the Indonesia's upper class market, providing array of new brands and services. It is operated by PT. Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk. which also managed Sogo department store in Indonesia. The department store has its own in-house tailors in addition to an exclusive lounge made available to its premium shoppers. It also house Planet Sports, Kidz Station, Marks and Spencer, Books Kinokuniya, Starbucks Coffee, and Genki Sushi. In addition, its lower ground level is fitted with The Foodhall, whilst the upper floor is occupied by Alun-Alun Indonesia, Indonesian local department store, specialized in local brands and traditional products.

United States

In 1962, Seibu opened a branch at the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax in Los Angeles. It was the first Japanese department store in the mainland United States. Despite much publicity, the store attracted little more than curiosity and closed after only two years. The building was later occupied by Ohrbach's and is currently home to the Petersen Automotive Museum.

See also

• Sogo
• Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.

External links

• (Japanese) Seibu Department Stores
• (Japanese) Millennium Retailing