U Village is lacing up for a new anchor in its outdoor lineup, as Brooks Running prepares to open a rare standalone store in the heart of the shopping center. The Seattle-based brand is taking over the former Eddie Bauer space, planning a roughly 2,500-square-foot shop and aiming to open by the end of the summer. The company expects to hire between 12 and 24 staffers, a small but noticeable retail boost that also gives the University District yet another big-name option for running shoes and gear.
Brooks will fill the former Eddie Bauer space
As reported by The Seattle Times, Brooks is stepping into the suite vacated by Eddie Bauer, right next door to the North Face shop. Mike Billish, Brooks’ senior vice president and general manager of the Americas, told the paper that "U Village alone is one of the premier retail destinations in the U.S., full stop." According to the Times, the space clocks in at about 2,500 square feet, and Brooks plans to bring on 12 to 24 employees for the new location.
Company growth powers the retail push
Brooks, a Seattle-headquartered brand founded in 1914 and owned by Berkshire Hathaway, has been leaning into growth and adding more physical locations, according to a company news release. In a November 2025 post, the brand highlighted double-digit revenue growth and strong international results, and it expanded its Seattle offices in early 2025. The Puget Sound Business Journal has also covered Brooks’ local office expansion and growth in headcount, underscoring the company’s broader uptrend.
What it means for U Village shoppers and jobs
University Village, the open-air shopping center just north of the University of Washington, has evolved into a regional magnet for outdoor and apparel brands, and Brooks’ move slots neatly into that trend. The center’s official site highlights a mix of national chains and local retailers, per University Village. Brooks already runs its run-focused Trailhead store in Fremont, which appears in the Fremont Chamber directory, and Seattle’s running community has used that presence for events and group runs.
The new U Village shop is likely to tighten the running and outdoor cluster there while adding modest local hiring as the build-out gets underway. In the initial report, Brooks targeted a late-summer opening and local hiring, with more specific job postings and an exact opening date expected as the lease and construction progress. For now, the move keeps University Village firmly in the outdoor and performance apparel game and gives local runners one more place to test-drive their next pair of shoes. This story will be updated when Brooks or University Village share additional details.
