Uniqlo to Open Friday in Smith Haven Mall

Japanese clothing retailer UNIQLO is set to open its first Long Island store at the Smith Haven Mall this Friday. 

UNIQLO will celebrate its grand opening in Lake Grove this Friday at 10 a.m., with plans for special festivities and performance throughout the weekend. The store will be located in the Macy's wing, next to Aeropostale. 

To celebrate its grand opening, UNIQLO announced it will have Japanese Taiko drum performances on the hour starting at 4 p.m. on Friday to Sunday, accompanied by popular DJs to put a fresh spin on an old tradition. 

In a special offering, UNIQLO has annoucned the first 300 customers each day will receive a free tote bag and those making purchases of $50 or more will receive a free Heattech gift item. 

Uniqlo, a brand under Fast Retailing Co., sells high-quality, casual apparel in line with its ‘Made for All' philosophy designed to go beyond age, gender, occupation or ethnicity and all other ways that define people, according to its website. The chain is also known for its Japanese-inspired service touches, such as its clerks handing a credit card back with both hands. 

The Lake Grove store will be one of 10 new stores Uniqlo is looking to open in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California to expand its U.S. Market. The expansion will bring the company up to 17 stores across the nation with its U.S. online shopping site, which came online in October 2012.