Reborn Shibuya Parco hopes to regain iconic status amid tough times for brick-and-mortar stores

After a three-year renewal project, Shibuya Parco, an iconic shopping complex in the bustling central Tokyo district, is back in the game. Having been at the vanguard of fashion and youth culture, especially in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, the facility, which reopened Friday, largely contributed to shaping the image of Shibuya as a magnet for young people. Since then times have changed, thanks to the rise of online shopping that has threatened many brick-and-mortar stores. The lively district, which is undergoing a yearslong massive redevelopment project, has been transforming itself from a youth hub to a magnet for international visitors. In that sense, the rebirth of Shibuya Parco -- which had been closed since August 2016 -- is seen as a high-profile opportunity to observe whether iconic facilities of its ilk are still capable of piquing consumers' interest.