Vancouver-based athletic apparel brand Lululemon has renovated its first standalone store location, which opened in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood in the year 2000. The company was founded by Chip Wilson in 1998.
The 6,300 square foot space at 2101 West 4th Avenue was Chip Wilson’s first store and at the time, his family lived several blocks away. Seventeen years ago, many wouldn’t have guessed that the quirky-named yoga-themed apparel retailer would become a multibillion dollar operation, with stores spanning the globe.
The Kitsilano Lululemon is considerably larger than it was several months ago — it grew in size by annexing a former Midas automotive service centre at the corner of Arbutus Street. Men’s apparel is now in the former Lululemon space while women’s is contained in the expansion, and both will soon be joined with the removal of a wall.
The store’s exterior is marked with the cheeky phrase “You Always Remember Your First”, and the store’s interior decor references Lululemon’s past, including old photographs, posters and other images on the walls, as well as murals by local artists. The store also features a rooftop patio with a barbecue, seating, and the ability to host gatherings that may range from fitness to community-related activities.
Lululemon’s full range of technical athletic apparel for men and women are carried in the new space, and the men’s store even offers kombucha on tap — taking a page from Lululemon’s first freestanding men’s-only store in Toronto that opened late last year, and serves cold-brewed coffee.
