An East-Asian lifestyle store is opening its first shop in the North East at Gateshead's Metrocentre in March 2026.
The 3,589 sq ft shop, located in Lower Green Mall, will introduce shoppers to Kenji's character-led world of plushies, toys, stationery, fashion, and homeware.
It will also offer East-Asian inspired snacks.
Eddie Shepherd, managing director of Kenji, said: "We are celebrating our tenth anniversary, and the new store in Metrocentre will be our first in the North East.
"We see expanding our retail portfolio nationwide as the most significant growth opportunity for our brand, and as part of that, having stores in the UK’s best shopping centres is vital."
Gavin Prior, centre director at Metrocentre, said: "We’re thrilled to welcome Kenji to Metrocentre for its first store in the North East.
"Their unique blend of creativity, culture, and playfulness will really resonate with our visitors and it’s a fantastic milestone in the ongoing transformation of Lower Green Mall."
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The signing of Kenji follows the recent openings of Urban Outfitters and Stradivarius, further broadening Metrocentre’s range of leading brands.
The new store will be close to Søstrene Grene, which is set to open in November.
Lower Green Mall is moving towards full occupancy, with recent investments from both existing and new tenants.
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