NEW YORK--The Museum of Modern Art opened its first international store in Tokyo last month, and early results have exceeded expectations, executives from the museum said during a press breakfast here earlier this week.
Japan's appreciation of modern art and good design made the market ripe for a MoMA store, Ruth Shapiro, director of business development for MoMA, said during the breakfast.
The 4,500-square-foot MoMA Design Store store in Tokyo's Omotesando district reflects the extension of the museum's existing retail collaboration with Sanyo, which is operating the Tokyo store on a day-to-day basis as MoMA's licensing partner.
The store, designed by New York architect Richard Gluckman, sits on the third floor of the new GYRE commercial development, which also holds upscale retailers such as Chanel, Bulguri, gourmet shops and restaurants.
The product mix of the Japanese MoMA store is consistent with the museum's three stores in New York. About half the mix in the Tokyo store is home goods.
However, the Tokyo unit marks the first MoMA bridal registry, known in Japan as hikidemono.
MoMA is also eyeing Korea as a potential market for expansion, executives said.