J Crew to debut in Regent Street next year

J Crew, the fashion brand favoured by US First Lady Michelle Obama, has confirmed it will open its first store outside North America on London’s Regent Street at the end of next year.

Mickey Drexler, the chief executive of J Crew, which has nearly 300 stores, said: “London was an easy decision – it’s a place where people understand and respect integrity of great style and great design.”

Its first UK store in the final quarter of 2013 will be in the property previously occupied by Burberry on the corner of Regent Street and New Burlington Street. J Crew acquired the lease from The Crown Estate, which was advised by the property specialist CBRE. The property agent Harper Dennis Hobbs acted for J Crew.