Walt Disney to build world's largest store in Shanghai

The Walt Disney Company China, officially announced plans to build the Company's first, and the world's largest Disney Store in Lujiazui in Shanghai.

Marking the occasion was the official signing ceremony between Mr. Stanley Cheung, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company, Greater China and Mr. Li Jinzhao, General Manager Shanghai Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone Development Co., Ltd. The event took place at the Pudong Government offices with Governor Mr. Jiang Liang and Vice Governor Madam Liu Zhengyi present at the ceremony.

"We are enormously proud to be building Disney's largest store in the world in China," said Mr. Stanley Cheung, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company, Greater China. "Disney has combined the retail concept with storytelling, fun and innovation and will provide families with a uniquely immersive entertainment destination featuring our best-loved stories and characters," he added.

Mr. Yang Xiao Ming, General Manager of Shanghai Lujiazui (Group) Company Limited said, "As the overall developer of Lujiazui Finance District and an investor in Shanghai Disney Resort's Chinese joint venture partner, The Shanghai Shendi Group, we are very pleased to partner with The Walt Disney Company and have the Disney Store located here in Lujiazui. The addition of the store, the innovative design, and product and entertainment offerings will provide the Lujiazui area with a family friendly destination focus point and will contribute to Shanghai's reputation and leadership as a family, business, cultural, entertainment and tourism destination."

Slated to open in early 2015, the 5000 square meters (or 53,000 square feet) Disney Store Lujiazui site will be located in Shanghai's financial hub, and will feature a state-of-the art Disney Store retail space (approximately 1000 square meters or 10,800 square feet) and a Disney-themed outdoor plaza area.

The interior of the store will be designed using Disney's award-winning innovative store format. Featuring cutting-edge technologies, families and kids will be able to interact with their favorite characters and stories from across Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. "China's flagship Disney Store will feature the largest and most diverse collection of Disney products by local and international designers," added Mr. Cheung.

The plaza will feature Disney-themed landscaping, a first for any Disney Store property in the world, and will have the capacity to host outdoor events providing a destination hub for family entertainment. It will also be an important site where fans can track the progress of Shanghai Disney Resort which is targeted to open at the end of 2015. The surrounding area commands foot traffic of over 40 million visitors a year and is a destination for many shoppers, visitors and tourists to Shanghai.

The DisneyStore made its debut in 1987 and now spans 340 locations around the world. The store in Shanghai will represent the first store on the Chinese mainland.