By Dana Gerber Globe Staff,Updated December 4, 2025
In January, when Anthropologie closed up shop in Harvard Square’s historic Design Research building, questions swirled about what would replace it.
It didn’t take long for Cantabrigians to get their answer: Muji, a Japan-born lifestyle retailer, opened on the well-trafficked Brattle Street stretch in late November, offering its wide-ranging array of stationery, clothing, food, and home goods.
“Harvard Square’s creative, diverse, and community-driven atmosphere aligns perfectly with Muji’s philosophy,” said Richard Rappaport, president of Muji USA, in a statement.
Nestled next to the new romance bookstore Lovestruck Books, Muji’s Harvard Square location spans nearly 11,500-square-feet across multiple floors. The meticulously organized shelves hold an eclectic selection: color-coded gel ink ballpoint pens ($1.90 each), yuzu fruit spread ($8.90), lacquered chopsticks ($9.90), rice cookers ($149), and aroma diffusers ($79 for a regular size, $129 for a large) emitting sweet scents like grapefruit and lime. There is also bedding, luggage, cleaning supplies, mens and women’s apparel, toiletries, and storage containers.
On the top floor, near an array of kitchen supplies, is a “robot barista” named Jarvis — patrons can punch in their beverage order on a tablet and watch as a mechanical arm assembles it.
Rappaport said the company took great care to use the building’s notable glass-walled exterior to their advantage. “We embraced that idea, designing the space so the community can see each level and its offerings from outside,” he said. “That openness aligns perfectly with Muji’s own design philosophy of simplicity, transparency, and integration with everyday life.”
When the building, designed by architect Benjamin Thompson, debuted in 1969, it served as the headquarters for Thompson’s interior design brand, Design Research. Before Anthropologie came along in 2010, the space had long been occupied by an outpost of Crate & Barrel.
“It’s such an iconic building and a beloved space in Harvard Square,” said Denise Jillson, executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association, which she said Muji has already joined. (Muji also has a location on Newbury Street.)
“They reached out almost immediately,” she said, “saying how much they wanted to be part of the community.”
48 Brattle St., Cambridge; muji.us.