AKIRA is bringing its women’s fashion retail concept to Raleigh, with a new location opening at Crabtree Valley Mall at 4325 Glenwood Ave. The Raleigh Downtown Instagram account announced the new store will open in October, adding the Chicago-based retailer to the mall’s lower level.
Founded in Chicago in 2002, AKIRA began as a single women’s clothing boutique before expanding into a multi-location fashion retailer. The company’s website states that AKIRA now operates 40-plus stores across more than 18 states, alongside its e-commerce and wholesale operations. The independently owned company is led by Eric Hsueh, Erikka Wang, Sarah Hughes, Mark Ricard, and Gordon Liao.
Their website states that the retailer offers a full range of women’s clothing, footwear, and accessories, with its online collections spanning dresses, denim, tops, bottoms, outerwear, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and other fashion accessories. Its website also highlights brands including Adidas, Dr. Martens, UGG, Timberland, Spanx, and Puma.
AKIRA’s Raleigh arrival follows the company’s recent expansion into North Carolina. Its existing Concord Mills location is listed among the brand’s current stores, while AKIRA is now recruiting for positions at the upcoming Crabtree Valley Mall location. A current company job listing identifies the Raleigh store as a new store opening in October 2026.
Crabtree Valley Mall, located along Glenwood Avenue, features more than 200 stores and continues to add new retail offerings as part of its evolving tenant mix.
