Associated Press
Brooks Brothers, an upscale Mainland clothing retailer, plans to open its first Hawai‘i store at the Waikele Premium Outlets on April 27.
The factory outlet will occupy 5,600 square feet of leased space formerly occupied by sportswear retailer Bugle Boy.
Brooks Brothers spokeswoman Geri Corrigan said Hawai‘i has always been on the company’s "radar screen."
The company filed a business registration with the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in 1988.
Retail analyst Stephany Sofos said the company probably picked Hawai‘i because of Brooks Brothers’ popularity with Asian tourists. Sofos said she thinks Brooks Brothers will do well with the location and probably look to open other stores.
The New York-based Brooks Brothers operates 80 retail and 72 factory stores nationwide and sells merchandise in 80 locations in Japan, five in Hong Kong and two in Taiwan. The company has been owned by London-based Marks & Spencer since 1988.
