PR & Marketing Agency | Twist

KENJI, Metrocentre to open its doors in February 2026

KENJI, the playfully spirited lifestyle brand that blends modern Asian culture with a British twist, is getting ready to welcome North East shoppers into its new store at Metrocentre from this Friday 27 February, ahead of its grand opening event next month.

First announced in September 2025, the new store – spanning 3,589 sq ft in Metrocentre’s Lower Green Mall – marks the brand’s debut in the region.

 

Customers are invited to step into the colourful, character-led universe of KENJI where they can browse the brand’s carefully curated mix of designer fashion, homeware, tech gadgets and stationery, along with must-have collectibles including plushies, squishy toys, blind boxes and Tiny-K keyrings.

There’s also a dedicated ‘Snack Station’ stocked with everything from sweet treats such as Mochi, Hello Panda biscuits and themed candies to East-Asian savouries including ramen, noodles and sushi-to-go, along with sodas, kombucha and teas.

Coming soon, shoppers will be able to add to the experience by tapping into a new ‘KENJILand’ feature of the KENJI mobile app while in-store, merging the offline with the online to create and personalise their own characters, build and decorate homes, undertake special missions, even connect with other KENJI fans.

 

Gavin Prior, Centre Director at Metrocentre, said: “Increasingly, customers are looking for memorable, meaningful retail experiences and KENJI knows how to deliver exactly that: from its quirky product range to its forthcoming fusion of the physical shopping experience with a virtual, interactive game environment.

“Combined, it offers shoppers of all ages something truly different – fun, stylish and affordable – further adding to the appeal of a visit to Metrocentre.”

Eddie Shepherd, Managing Director at KENJI UK, said: “Opening a new store is always a special moment but particularly so at a location such as Metrocentre, which has rightly earned a reputation for being the go-to retail and leisure destination in the region.

“There’s a real buzz amongst the KENJI team who are ready and raring to go, and looking forward to warmly welcoming our very first North East shoppers through the doors from this Friday.”

The new KENJI store will celebrate its grand opening event on Saturday 14 March, with the chance to meet and greet life-sized mascots, enjoy 10% off full price products and earn double gems for KENJI Club members, all to the sounds of an in-store DJ. The first 50 customers to spend £10 or more at the event will receive a free goodie bag worth £40, with additional complimentary gifts for the next 100 customers to spend over £10.

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