Bang & Olufsen Plans 3 California Stores

Bang & Olufsen (Struer, Denmark) has unveiled plans to open three stores in California, including a two-level flagship in San Francisco’s Union Square in November, report a variety of news sources, including the San Francisco Chronicle. The 5100-square-foot San Francisco space is the high-end audio retailer’s largest in the world and will be joined in coming months by locales in West Hollywood and Palo Alto’s Stanford Shopping Center.

In statement released to the Chronicle, CEO Kristian Tear said that California “is a pivotal market for Bang & Olufsen and a vital space for us as a brand. It sits at the heart of the entertainment industry and is home to a vibrant design community.”

Each new location will blend retail and culture, hosting listening events, live performances, artist collaborations and more, the company told the newspaper.

The San Francisco locale, on Geary Street, will be a big boost for Union Square. That troubled shopping district has seen the exodus of several major retailers in recent years (including Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s) but is now experiencing something of a comeback.

“New leases from Rolex, Bulgari, the Nintendo Store, Stephen Curry’s Bourbon Steak, as well as fast fashion giant Zara’s planned four-story flagship on Post Street, are fueling optimism that the city’s premier shopping district is rebounding,” the Chronicle reported.