Grand opening for lululemon draws crowds to Fig Garden

Building 712 in Fig Garden Village buzzed with anticipation Friday morning as women in yoga gear holding Starbucks coffee cups, mothers pushing their babies in strollers and other women, some in the company of their husbands, waited for the big red bow on the doors of lululemon to fall.

The grand opening weekend kicked off at 10 a.m. at the sports retailer’s new home at 712 W. Shaw Ave. in Fig Garden Village between Starbucks and White House Black Market. It replaces the much smaller “showroom” space in Old Town Clovis, which has closed.

Fans of the brand arrived as early as 9:15 a.m. and helped themselves to plums, pluots and peaches donated by Sierra Sun, danced to the DJ’s music and gathered outside beneath the shade while chatting about what they could see through the windows.

At 9:20 a.m. 32-year-old Clovis native Jessica Peterson stood right outside of the store’s front doors waiting for the opening. She started purchasing lululemon two years ago after one of the women in her gym spoke highly of the brand.

“I do CrossFit, so we do a lot of different movements,and with their shorts they fit really well,” she said. “When you’re running they have a liner on the inside and they don’t ride up, and the ‘wunder under’ is really thick so you can’t see through them, which makes them nice when you are doing certain lifts.”

The employees, lululemon ambassadors and their friends and family were invited to look around the new location before its grand opening to the public. But at 10 a.m. sharp, an employee of the yoga-inspired clothing company untied the red bow from the front doors and said, “We are open for business!”

Cheers erupted from the customers as each made a beeline for athletic apparel and accessories.

Regional manager Jill Spratt has been with lululemon for eight years, and this location is special because she grew up in Fresno.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” she said. “It feels so awesome, two and a half years in the making.”

The store sells men’s and women’s clothing, including sport-specific wear for yoga, running, tennis and golf, and a wide variety of accessories that include yoga mats, water bottles and headbands. The new space is between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet, Spratt said.

One unique aspect of the store is its community offerings, she said.

These will include classes that are free to the community and take place inside the store. She was not sure what the ongoing classes will be, but on Saturday, Dina Juve will teach a kettlebell class, and Katie Flinn will teach yoga Sunday.

Spratt said Juve and Flinn have been lululemon ambassadors since the showroom opened in Clovis.

The 22 staff members are from all over the Central Valley. Spratt said there are people from Madera to Visalia, and it makes the team special, having such a local vibe.

In addition, the store design has a local feel. The storefront design is inspired by the Ahwahnee Lodge in Yosemite.

Peterson, the Clovis resident, said even her husband wears lulu. She was shocked at the huge selection the store offered for both men and women. She also added that the store makes purchasing merchandise more convenient because now people don’t always have to go online.

She also appreciates the customer service.

“All the people at the showroom were really helpful, and I wouldn’t expect anything less here,” she said, “They remember you, say, ‘How are you and this is what I have that’s new.’”

Mai Thao, a 20-year-old Fresno State student, said lululemon is her favorite store.

“You know when you wear leggings and they are kind of loose or they’re really flimsy?” she said. “These leggings are made out of luon so they hold everything in together, and it just makes your body look great.”

Fresno native Tyler Abell was among the handful of men who attended the grand opening. The 22-year-old was buying three shirts and a pair of shorts. He said he likes to wear the lululemon brand when he goes rock climbing or does yoga and said the new store is “brilliance.”

“The guy’s selection is 10 times larger,” Abell said. “There was only like five shirts before and now there’s everything. It’s so exciting.”

Store hours are the same as Fig Garden Village’s hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and you can find them on Facebook.

This story was originally published July 3, 2015 at 5:23 PM with the headline "Grand opening for lululemon draws crowds to Fig Garden."