[Edaily Reporter KYUNG GYEYOUNG ] E-MART Co., Ltd.(139480)has renovated its Wolgye store—a key location in northeastern Seoul—and reopened it on the 27th as “Starfield Market Wolgye.” It is the first Starfield Market location in Seoul and the fifth Starfield Market store overall.

The Wolgye branch, the largest in Seoul, is the first Starfield Market location to bring together E-MART Co., Ltd., Traders, and various tenants under one roof.

This renovation completely reorganized the shopping experience and store layout based on the concept of a “Young Family Community Market,” tailored for families with young children in their 30s and 40s. Rest and cultural spaces were expanded to 595 square meters (180 pyeong)—including the creation of “Sunlight Plaza” on the first floor and “Book Ground” in the central area of the second floor—to allow families to linger and spend time together. “Kids’ Ground” was subdivided into a reading space for children aged 3 and older next to Book Ground and a play area for infants and toddlers within the food court.

Eighty percent of the food and beverage (F&F) brands have been replaced or rearranged, including the introduction of “Ashley Queens,” “Shima Sushi,” “Seocheong Seaweed,” and “Soi Yeonnam.” The Olive Young store has been expanded to three times its previous size, and shopping offerings have been strengthened with the addition of “Shinsegae Co.,Ltd Factory Store,” “Decathlon,” and “ABC Mart.” In November, “Uniqlo” and “Muji” are scheduled to open as well. Inside the grocery store, a 165-square-meter (50 pyeong) section dedicated exclusively to “No Brand” products will be established, and in October, E-MART Co., Ltd.’s ultra-low-price household goods brand “Wow Shop” will debut as a separate 330-square-meter store.

Starfield Market also allows pets. Limited to dogs and cats weighing less than 5 kg that have completed their vaccinations, customers may bring their pets into 60% of the store—excluding E-MART Co., Ltd. stores and certain F&F areas—provided they use a covered pet stroller, kennel, or carrier.

Based on the catchment area of 1.4 million residents in northeastern Seoul—including Nowon, Seongbuk, and Dobong—E-MART Co., Ltd. plans to develop the Wolgye branch into the region’s premier community-oriented mixed-use shopping destination. The four Starfield Market locations—Jukjeon, Ilsan, Dongtan, and Gyeongsan—saw sales in the first half of this year increase by 28% compared to the same period last year, significantly outpacing E-MART Co., Ltd.’s overall sales growth rate of 2.7%, and have established themselves as key growth models driving E-MART Co., Ltd.’s offline space innovation.

E-MART Co., Ltd. stated, “With this renovation, the Wolgye branch has taken its offline competitiveness to the next level as a Starfield Market that houses both E-Mart and Traders,” adding, “As Seoul’s first Starfield Market, we will strive to develop it into a space where the whole family can enjoy culture and relaxation as part of their daily lives—beyond just grocery shopping and retail—so that it can establish itself as a landmark representing Seoul’s northeastern region.”

To commemorate the grand opening of the Starfield Market Wolgye branch, E-MART Co., Ltd. plans to offer a variety of benefits, including pop-up stores, cultural performances, and discount events.