Japanese retailer MUJI and shared workspace company Regus have now opened in 361 Newbury Street. The two new tenants culminate KIC’s $10 million repositioning of the property with Lee Kennedy and LaFreniere Architects.
MUJI is a unique entity in Boston: the first “brandless” boutique from the Japanese lifestyle retailer in New England. Embracing a no-label philosophy, Muji carries simple, low-cost items, from skincare products and clothes to home goods. Launched in Japan in 1980 with the goal of eliminating wastefulness, its design-driven products have earned devoted followers, but in the U.S. it has been limited largely to online commerce and small shops in a few cities. With 10,000 square feet showcasing the full array of MUJI products, 361 Newbury is only the second flagship store in the U.S.
Joining MUJI, Spaces by Regus occupies 33,000 square feet on the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors of our Back Bay building. Spaces is the “younger” spin on Regus’ highly successful co-working / flexible office space model. The airy, brick-walled Spaces houses 96 private offices, 390 dedicated desks, four meeting rooms, and 5,000 square feet of common “business club” area.
Together, MUJI and Spaces by Regus are the capstone of a two-year repositioning project initiated in 2015. The project upgraded the common areas, bathrooms, lobby and elevator, and replaced aging equipment with high efficiency chillers, environmental controls, and boilers. The roof was completely removed and replaced with ultra-insulated product to reduce heat loss and improve access. Prior to the repositioning effort, the architectural windows and decorative cornice were replaced. The results are not only aesthetically-pleasing but environmentally sound, aligning with our core responsibility “to operate, build and refurbish our real estate portfolio with a focus on energy efficiency.”
