Yeongjongdo 'Inspire' Opens 100-Pyeong Convenience Store... CU's 3rd Flagship Store

141 Pyeong Scale... Equipped with Convenience Facilities and Tourist Corner
"Will Continue to Promote Landmark Convenience Store"

CU, a convenience store operated by BGF Retail, announced on the 15th that it will open its third flagship store, 'CU Inspire Resort Branch (Stores 1 and 2),' at the 'Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort,' the largest complex entertainment resort in Korea.

Located on Yeongjongdo Island in Incheon, Inspire Resort is the largest complex resort in Northeast Asia, featuring 1,275 five-star hotel rooms, an arena with a seating capacity of 15,000, an indoor water park, and outdoor facilities that can accommodate up to 30,000 people, along with various other facilities and content.

BGF Retail's convenience store CU announced on the 15th that it will open its third flagship store, 'CU Inspire Resort Store (1st and 2nd branches),' at the country's largest integrated entertainment resort, 'Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort.' A view of the CU Inspire Resort Store 2nd branch. [Photo by BGF Retail]

The CU Inspire flagship stores consist of two locations, with a combined area of 141 pyeong. 'Inspire Store 1 (84 pyeong)' is scheduled to open on the first floor of the Forest Tower Hotel in the first half of this year, while 'Inspire Store 2 (57 pyeong)' opened earlier this month on the 8th, located on the second floor of the resort, in front of the entrance to Inspire Arena at the Rotunda (a multipurpose circular hall) area.

The CU Inspire Resort Branch attempts spatial differentiation from both interior and exterior design, creating the feeling of being inside a spaceship. It is designed with a structure reminiscent of a large concert hall, and the exterior facade of the store uses a combination of corrugated polycarbonate and metal fabric to distinguish it from typical stores.

Inside the store, display shelves are arranged radially around the counter, and overhead category guides help first-time foreign customers easily find the products they want. Additionally, the semi-circular floor plan is reflected with mirrors to enhance the openness of the shopping space.

BGF Retail's convenience store CU announced on the 15th that it will open its third flagship store, 'CU Inspire Resort Branch (1st and 2nd branches),' at the country's largest integrated entertainment resort, 'Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort.' A view of the CU Inspire Resort Branch 2. [Photo by BGF Retail]

Considering the store’s location characteristics, CU prominently features products targeting foreign customers. A dedicated foreigner-only corner is arranged focusing on popular items preferred by foreign customers such as ramen, snacks, desserts, and processed milk products. Below the products in this corner, guidance phrases are written in English to help foreign customers find items easily.

CU has announced that one of its key management strategies this year is to strengthen its role as a special convenience space that provides customers with unique experiences through new convenience store models. Last year, CU renovated the CU Olympic Square Branch in Songpa-gu, Seoul, opening its first flagship store, 'K-Planet Store 1.' It then introduced its second flagship store, 'The Magic Gate,' at Everland.

In December last year, CU opened a ramen-specialized convenience store called 'Ramen Library' (CU Hongdae Sangsang Branch) in Hongdae, Seoul. Within about a month of opening, 15,000 ramen products were sold, and the proportion of foreign customers (62%) surpassed that of domestic customers (38%).

Hwang Hwan-jo, Head of Sales Development at BGF Retail, said, "The CU Inspire Resort Branch is a highly symbolic store that can widely promote the status of K-convenience stores to both domestic and international customers as a representative convenience store of Korea." He added, "We will continue to pursue the opening of landmark convenience stores considering various locations and commercial districts in line with rapidly changing consumer trends."