Soyora Narita Newtown

Soyora Narita Newtown is a shopping center located in Akasaka, Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by AEON Retail Co., Ltd. It opened on July 19, 2024, as a renewal of the former Bon Belta Narita department store, which had operated at the same site since March 1992. The facility is part of AEON Group's 'Soyora' urban-type shopping center chain, and it is the first Soyora location in Chiba Prefecture. Because it was converted from a department store, it has the largest sales floor area among Soyora stores and is positioned as the flagship of the brand. The center is anchored by AEON Style Narita Newtown, a supermarket operated by AEON Retail that replaced the former Maruetsu supermarket. In addition to food, cosmetics, and daily necessities, the AEON Style store sells stationery and school supplies to serve the surrounding area, which includes eight elementary schools. The shopping center also houses approximately 80 specialty stores, clinics, and public facilities, including some tenants that have continued from the Bon Belta era. On the fourth floor, six apparel shops for mature women that operated during the Bon Belta era have been gathered into a zone called 'Bon Belta Street,' and the 'Bon Belta Dental Clinic' on the fifth floor continues to operate under its original name, preserving the Bon Belta name in parts of the facility. The predecessor, Bon Belta Narita, was a department store-type shopping center operated by Bon Belta Co., Ltd. The name 'Bon Belta' is a portmanteau of the French word 'bon' (good) and the Italian word 'belta' (beauty). It was a member of the Japan Council of Shopping Centers but not of the Japan Department Stores Association. The store complex consisted of a main building, an annex (divided into Buildings A and B), and a multi-story parking garage. The main building housed a Maruetsu supermarket on its food floor from opening until closure, along with a bowling alley and various specialty shops; the rooftop had parking and a futsal court. The annex housed AEON Bike, various classrooms and specialty stores, as well as Narita City public facilities such as the Gender Equality Center and the Akasaka Fureai Center. Bon Belta Narita was the last remaining store bearing the 'Bon Belta' name, and after the closure of the Nakajuku Fukushima store in August 2020, it was the only department store in the entire AEON Group. In March 2024, the operating company Bon Belta merged into AEON Retail, and the store closed as Bon Belta Narita at the end of February 2024. After a large-scale renovation, it reopened as Soyora Narita Newtown on July 19, 2024, with some areas still not yet open at that time. A Kohnan home center opened on the second floor on November 20, 2024. The conversion was prompted by expectations for the future development of the Akasaka district, especially with the planned enhancement of Narita Airport functions in 2029.

The site of Soyora Narita Newtown has a history dating back to the early 1990s. Bon Belta Co., Ltd. was established on June 29, 1990, and Bon Belta Narita opened on March 19, 1992, as a department store-type shopping center in the Narita New Town area of Akasaka, Narita City, Chiba Prefecture. The name 'Bon Belta' was a portmanteau of the French word 'bon' (good) and the Italian word 'belta' (beauty). The facility was a member of the Japan Council of Shopping Centers but not of the Japan Department Stores Association. The complex consisted of a main building, an annex (with Buildings A and B), and a multi-story parking garage. The main building housed a Maruetsu supermarket (then part of the Daiei Group) on its food floor from opening until closure, along with a bowling alley and various specialty stores; the rooftop had parking and a futsal court. The annex housed AEON Bike, various classrooms and specialty stores, and Narita City public facilities including the Gender Equality Center and the Akasaka Fureai Center. On October 21, 1999, the annex was completed. Ishimaru Electric Narita Big One opened in the Denki-kan (later Annex Building A), and a furniture department occupied the Kurashi-kan (later Annex Building B). Ishimaru Electric Narita Big One closed on May 24, 2009. In 2012, the store underwent renovations. It temporarily closed on February 20 for renovation, while the first-floor Maruetsu and the fourth-floor hair salon (Pepa Moon) continued to operate. On March 16, part of the annex (Building A first floor and Building B second floor) reopened. On April 3, the first-floor Maruetsu temporarily closed for renovation. On May 2, the first phase opened, with floors 1–3 (including the first-floor Maruetsu, with some floors partially open) and the fifth-floor bowling alley renewed. WAON electronic money became usable at various stores, and AEON Retail began issuing a WAON card with membership card functions called 'BonBeltaWAON.' On May 16, Sports Authority opened on the third floor. On June 7, a deli shop opened on the first floor. On June 29, the entire building reopened after renovation. In March 2013, a children's clothing section opened on the third floor. In 2018, the store was renovated again. In July, all tenants except Maruetsu temporarily closed for renovation. On September 28, the grand reopening took place. In 2023, AEON Retail Co., Ltd. and Bon Belta Co., Ltd. announced on September 1 that they would merge effective March 1 of the following year and that Bon Belta Narita would be renewed. On November 30, it was announced that the renewed facility would be named 'Soyora Narita Newtown' and would open in the summer of the following year. In 2024, Bon Belta Narita closed on February 29, marking the disappearance of the Bon Belta store name. Some stores in the main building and the annex continued to operate during the renovation. On March 1, Bon Belta Co., Ltd. merged into AEON Retail Co., Ltd. and was dissolved. On July 19, 'Soyora Narita Newtown' reopened, although some areas were not yet open at that time. On November 20, Kohnan opened on the second floor. Soyora Narita Newtown is the first Soyora location in Chiba Prefecture. Because it was converted from a department store, it has the largest sales floor area among Soyora stores and is positioned as the flagship of the Soyora brand. The conversion was prompted by expectations for the future development of the Akasaka district, especially with the planned enhancement of Narita Airport functions in 2029. The main anchor is AEON Style Narita Newtown, a supermarket operated by AEON Retail that replaced Maruetsu. In addition to food, cosmetics, and daily necessities, the AEON Style store sells stationery and school supplies to serve the surrounding area, which includes eight elementary schools. The center also houses approximately 80 specialty stores, clinics, and public facilities, including some tenants that have continued from the Bon Belta era. On the fourth floor, six apparel shops for mature women that operated during the Bon Belta era have been gathered into a zone called 'Bon Belta Street,' and the 'Bon Belta Dental Clinic' on the fifth floor continues to operate under its original name, preserving the Bon Belta name in parts of the facility.

• 2024

  Bon Belta Narita closes; Bon Belta store name disappears.

• 2024

  Bon Belta Co., Ltd. merges into AEON Retail Co., Ltd. and is dissolved.

• 2024

  Soyora Narita Newtown reopens; some areas not yet open.

• 2024

  Kohnan opens on the second floor.

• 2023

  AEON Retail and Bon Belta announce merger effective March 1, 2024, and renewal of Bon Belta Narita.

• 2023

  Renewed facility to be named 'Soyora Narita Newtown', opening summer 2024.

• 2018

  Grand reopening after renovation.

• 2013

  Children's clothing section opens on the third floor.

• 2012

  Store temporarily closes for renovation; Maruetsu and Pepa Moon hair salon remain open.

• 2012

  Part of annex (Building A 1F, Building B 2F) reopens after renovation.

• 2012

  First phase of renovation opens; WAON electronic money introduced and BonBeltaWAON card issued.

• 2012

  Entire building reopens after renovation.

• 2009

  Ishimaru Electric Narita Big One closes.

• 1999

  Annex completed; Ishimaru Electric Narita Big One opens in Denki-kan (later Annex A), furniture department in Kurashi-kan (later Annex B).

• 1992

  Bon Belta Narita opens as a department store-type shopping center.

• 1990

  Bon Belta Co., Ltd. established.

Urban-type community shopping center and flagship of AEON's 'Soyora' brand, converted from a department store and serving the Narita New Town area.

• AEON Style Narita Newtown

  Supermarket operated by AEON Retail, selling food, cosmetics, daily necessities, stationery, and school supplies.

• Bon Belta Street

  Zone on the fourth floor gathering six apparel shops for mature women that operated during the Bon Belta era.

• Bon Belta Dental Clinic

  Dental clinic on the fifth floor continuing under its original name.

• Kohnan

  Home center that opened on the second floor on November 20, 2024.

1. 1そよら成田ニュータウン 公式ホームページaeon.jp
2. 2Soyora Narita Newtown - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3そよら成田ニュータウン - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org