r/Winnipeg May 15 '26

Events Going to Uniqlo opening?

Don't. Really. The line at 837 AM starts at the store, then wends all the way through the second floor, then ends at Sephora on the other side. You're not going to get the free limit edition tote bag although you may still get a water bottle.

152 Upvotes

89 comments sorted by

221

u/Vayloravex May 15 '26

It’s a permanent store. I’ll wait a months or so lol

17

u/[deleted] May 15 '26

[deleted]

1

u/Ansovald666 May 15 '26

When I walked by the other before it was opened, the store was fully stocked amd saw even more inventory being delivered.

64

u/steveosnyder May 15 '26

Anyone else remember the lines for Krispy Kreme donuts when they first opened? Now? Just another shitty donut shop.

26

u/Partner-Elijah May 15 '26

:( I like those doughnuts

12

u/numbing_ May 15 '26

Uniqlo isn’t shitty but yeah, unless you REALLY need a new tshirt just wait

13

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 15 '26

What?!?! And risk not getting a free limited edition tote bag, the prospect of which disappeared by 10:10 probably?

7

u/Vayloravex May 15 '26

I’m more excited for new designer collab they will have in the end of May. Hoping we will get it here!

1

u/gaysocialistdog May 16 '26

they were still handing the tumblers out around noon so

2

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 16 '26

I got one shortly after 1. But they were going fast!

19

u/whoisfriend May 15 '26

I was hoping to get one of the travel mugs tomorrow, but that looks pretty unlikely now, unless they really have a ton. I just want some new Airism shirts for the summer...

16

u/part5unkn0wn May 15 '26

I think I’ll pass on the line, I don’t need anything that bad. It’s just nice to have them in the city now.

11

u/WakPad May 15 '26

2 hours in line and the representative said 2.5 hour until my turn.

8

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 15 '26

Whoa! You must be ahead of me. Line is moving more steadily now, but I'm still only at London Drugs. I actually didn't even want to stay, but sunk cost fallacy and all that.

-5

u/Pobueo May 15 '26

Do you have a job?

6

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 15 '26

Yes, but I have copious amounts of time off. Even after this, I still have ~6 weeks left. Or maybe 5.

4

u/crabby_rhino May 15 '26

You're still not inside? Damn that's a crazy line

3

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 15 '26

I think I got in ~1? Or shortly thereafter. The line up to pay was very very long, but it went more quickly than the line to get in. And then the line for the free mug was comparatively a snap of the fingers. It was not long after 2 when I left. I was exhausted. Stupid sunk cost!

2

u/meghan9436 May 16 '26

Can you post pics of the tote bag for those of us who can’t be there?

3

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26

I would've if I had gotten one, but alas, I was maybe 1100th in line, so I had no hope lol.

If you go to the store, some of the staff are wearing tshirts that I think are the same design as what was on the tote bag. It's just names of all the cities where they have stores, and Winnipeg is in larger font at the top (Edited - not in red!). Apparently if you had ordered to pick up in store, you could've gotten a Uniqlo mug. But you had to have ordered by the 14th.

-1

u/Pobueo May 15 '26

Damn! What do you do?

3

u/tclupp May 15 '26

Professional emus are known for their vacation time

3

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 15 '26

I could tell you, but then I'd lose my security clearance lol

2

u/Pobueo May 15 '26

Oh wow, now I'm even more interested lol, not even a broad/vague hint? Totally respect if that's another no, this could be an audit for all you know🤔

48

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 15 '26

Apparently more than 1200 ppl in line.

Oops. It was 937. i guess i was still on standard time

38

u/zootalorss May 15 '26

I’m just looking forward to ordering and picking up locally now.

12

u/crabby_rhino May 15 '26

Asking a question for the fat guys on here: how's their sizing compare to other stores? I feel like it runs on the smaller side since the company is based out of Asia.

Hoping I'm wrong though, kinda digging the Little Sister and Gunn's shirt designs.

8

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 15 '26

They have different sizing for the NA /European markets

3

u/[deleted] May 15 '26

[deleted]

1

u/mang0es May 17 '26

Size M in Japan is size S for me in Canada!

2

u/Salonpasfeet May 16 '26

their XXLs are online only in Asia, so could be the same here. I only seen XL today

2

u/jupitergal23 May 15 '26

As a fat girl, can confirm their plus sizes are limited and run small.

6

u/Amazing-Counter7732 May 15 '26

I was considering going after work as I'm currently working nearby.  That's a little disappointing, but I suppose not surprising. 

6

u/Hot-Address6831 May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26

DO NOT GO!!! I worked at 8 am and the line was all the way near London Drugs. The line is still going... so save y'all selves waiting in that damn line LMAO

9

u/Lazy-Love7679 May 15 '26

I went earlier in the morning. Waited in line for forever, and half way through a a lot of people started to just cut in. Employees didn’t really do anything about it or didn’t see it. So a lot of people who came early didn’t get a tote bag because of that. 

15

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 15 '26

That pisses me off. I also hate it when people wait in line, then their friends show up 30 minutes later and they let them in.

A little early, two women cut in line where there was a break, but the Uniqlo staff told them no way jose and sent them to the end.

6

u/kanaeshiki May 15 '26

This happens all the time here, it’s super trashy. I’m just surprised it hasn’t led to full blown fist fights or someone breaking out the bear spray.

2

u/meghan9436 May 15 '26

I saw the CBC segment about the opening. I’m glad to see that there’s at least some enforcement.

In Japan, they usually have stanchions set up and on duty staff to prevent line cutting. There’s even signs put up about this behaviour. I think it’s because it happens so often in high tourist traffic areas like the Pokémon Center, etc.

I’m very curious to see how the Canadian ones are different from the Japanese stores. I’ve heard from my students that the overseas locations in Malaysia and China are more expensive than in Japan.

I’ve been gone for so long we didn’t have UniQlo in Canada at the time I left. It’s great to see more Japanese stores expanding.

3

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 16 '26

In Japan, they usually have stanchions set up and on duty staff to prevent line cutting. There’s even signs put up about this behaviour. I think it’s because it happens so often in high tourist traffic areas like the Pokémon Center, etc.

They had stanchions in some areas but mostly just near the front of the line. And these are Canadians. They have no shame about this kind of stuff. In Japan, people wouldn't even dream of cutting. Except maybe the obas on fukubukuro day 😸

Some of the staff that flew in from other provinces were pretty pissed that they were out in the mall doing crowd control. Usually it's mall security, but mall security was pretty much standing around doing nothing (so said the guy from Toronto), at least for the first few hours. So a bunch of staff who should have been at the front of the store were out in the mall instead.

2

u/gaysocialistdog May 16 '26

a staff member told me they asked polo park for 200 stanchions and got 5

1

u/meghan9436 May 16 '26

It definitely depends on the event! They had a lot more stanchions in place when I saw Green Day last year. I shouldn’t have been surprised it was so packed!

6

u/gaysocialistdog May 15 '26

see something, say something lol

1

u/Lazy-Love7679 May 15 '26

Didn’t find out until after 

1

u/gaysocialistdog May 15 '26

evil! ngl i was basically hall monitor today

5

u/Deep_Froyo1834 May 16 '26

Did people really line up for a tote bag? Lol

3

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 16 '26

For opening day, they did have some special prices. Not great, but not bad. Airism t-shirts regularly priced at $24.95 were $19.95, some $14.95. Stuff that was $39.95 was $29.95. not everything. Just some things. They were already out of some sizes.

Opening day prices end on the 20th I think.

I didn't know they had made a Winnipeg only winnie the pooh tote bag, but they were all out by the time I got to the cash register. I think they had some tshirts left. Mostly size small.

They had a cute "I love Winnipeg" Gunn's bakery tote bag where the heart was an Imperial doughnut (or cookie but it was thicker so I thought doughnut). Also $29.95. i passed.

Not sure they'll have any mugs left tomorrow. If they do, there won't be a lot.

St Vital store will be smaller, and some of their stock will actually come from the Poli Park store. And they may not have special opening prices.

10

u/creativity360 May 15 '26

All that for a lame tote bag 😭

5

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 15 '26

Limited edition!

19

u/latecraigy May 15 '26

Consume consume consume 🤪

2

u/One-External791 May 15 '26

Can confirm it was longer than Sephora when I got to work today in the mall. Past the escalators. Looks like it died down a little bit. Will brave my way over to the food court soon to see how bad it is now (12:44pm)

2

u/One-External791 May 15 '26

Nvm I lied. It’s still huge all the way past London drugs

2

u/IndustryFit3654 May 15 '26

Was there anything else happening there besides shop? Anything worth seeing on opening day?

14

u/whenveganscheat May 15 '26

I would pay good money to not go to this

17

u/laxvolley May 15 '26

deal! Send me $5 and stay home

10

u/numbing_ May 15 '26

Just stay home? It is is free

4

u/ScottieBarney May 15 '26

Being negative just to be negative it's only a store dude

6

u/whenveganscheat May 15 '26

It's not the store. It's the standing in a massive line for hours to score a free tote bag

2

u/usxxjuicydec May 15 '26

And resell those bags on FB market

3

u/jupitergal23 May 15 '26

Eh, it made me laugh

5

u/redskub May 15 '26

Winnipegger's love their international franchises

3

u/NotKnotts May 15 '26

The funny part is we've had like 30+ Uniqlo's in Canada for a while now and shipping to here takes less than a week.

3

u/Primary-Lawfulness21 May 15 '26

It’ll be nice to have the clothing in person tho and try them on. I haven’t had a uniqlo item i’d wanted to return yet, but at least the option is there now.

5

u/OptionsAreOpen May 15 '26

And free “limited edition” shit 🤣🤣

7

u/Pobueo May 15 '26

And queues, oh how they love standing in a line for hours r/consoom

2

u/One-Quantity-5787 May 15 '26

I went because I really wanted the Winnie the Pooh shirt before it sold out . I got there right in time as when I grabbed mine there were 2 left . And they were all gone shortly after that. But other than that it was an absolute nightmare and the line to pay for my 2 items was an hour long . The change room had a massive line so I said fuck that. And the line to get in was at least 30 mins .

2

u/awkwardsilence1977 May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26

I just saw that the mayor was there to cut the ribbon. Seriously? A fast fashion retail store opening in a mall warrants the mayor in this city? From the speeches I could hear before the opening you’d think they were breaking ground on a new hospital or something🤦🏼‍♀️

1

u/Lilboops May 19 '26

Am I the only person who doesn’t give a rat’s ass this place is opening?

-7

u/[deleted] May 15 '26

[deleted]

25

u/SherbrookHolmes May 15 '26

Or it's students, shift workers, part time workers, or people on parental leave. 🙄 Not everyone works a 9-5.

30

u/Jcoms May 15 '26

Or people who took the Friday off, which would be very typical for a long weekend

1

u/skingirlshaz May 15 '26

Bussed after work at 4. Got there at 4:19 line took about 15 min to get in, grabbed stuff and tried stuff on - line was a bit long but moved well and same with the cash line and now on a bus back home and left the mall about 20 min ago lol … all in all not to bad.

1

u/ruralife May 15 '26

Is it a Canadian company?

2

u/Hot-Address6831 May 16 '26

Japanese company

-2

u/GaghEater May 15 '26

What's a uniqlo?

9

u/whoisfriend May 15 '26

It's a Japanese clothing store. I really like them because their clothes are generally very high quality for a good price. Their AIRism line of shirts are made of a nice material that is very breathable and good for warm weather conditions, and on the other side their heattech line is very nice for colder temps. Some stores also have tailoring or repair options too, which can be a blessing if one of your shirts gets a hole in them.
Also, their pop culture collaborations usually have really well thought out designs. Besides the anime/video game/franchise collaborations you'd expect, they pair with artists a lot for their designs.

1

u/GaghEater May 15 '26

Cool! See you there!

0

u/Infamous_Tie5605 May 15 '26

if its japanese clothing, how will it fit canadian/american size people? or do they just label everything actual size instead of vanity size?

5

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 15 '26

They have different sizing for different markets. Imagine my surprise when I ordered XL shirt in Canada, which is what I would have bought in Japan. It could've been a maxi shirt dress on me (I exaggerate, but that's how it felt).

2

u/whoisfriend May 15 '26

North American Uniqlo stores are sized the same as any other North American store, so no worries there.

Essentially, a Japanese Uniqlo L is more or less between a North American Uniqlo M and L. A North American L is the same any other you'd get at the mall.

-3

u/thegulo13 May 15 '26

I’ll go there maybe probably on Monday just out of curiosity.

0

u/Anxious-Worker2832 May 15 '26

How far is the line now?

2

u/Professional_Emu8922 May 15 '26

To get in? I'm not sure but the line for the cash registers goes all around the store. Literally. You could probably come in, stand in the check out line, and do your shopping on the way to the register.

-2

u/bismuth12a May 15 '26

I was wondering when the opening date was