The Lids store on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California, on March 7, 2021. Image source: AP
Lids is launching a new retail concept dedicated to college athletic products and apparel.
The sporting goods retailer, called Lids University (Lids U), will open 11 stores in key university markets in 2022, with more opening in 2023.
According to Lids, the concept was developed in response to consumers seeking more NCAA products from retailers. The new concept will feature a “significant assortment” of NCAA products, including a curated selection of men’s, women’s and children’s headwear, apparel and accessories from local, regional and national university and college teams, Lids said.
The retailer added that Lids U stores will open in malls and outlet malls across the U.S. and will feature custom areas that will give consumers the opportunity to customize the products of their choice. The stores will continue to carry apparel brands such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Zealot, Vintage, Champion, Mitchell and Nice, as well as headwear brands from New Age and Zephyr.
“We understand our customers want to see more college products in our stores, and we’re proud to now offer consumers a space where they can shop the latest from their favorite college team,” Co-Founder and partner Lawrence Berger said. Ames Watson, owner of Lids and chairman of FanzzLids Holdings, said in a statement.
On July 22, one of the first Lids U stores opened at the Gurnee Mills Mall in Gurney, Illinois. The store will feature products representing popular schools in the area as well as across the country, including the Illinois Red Birds, Loyola Chicago, DePaul Blue Devils, Northwest Wildcats, Southern Illinois Salukis, University of Chicago Malones and more .
The opening follows two other Lids U stores opening on July 22 at the Georgia Mall in Buford, Georgia, and the San Marcos Premium Outlets in San Marcos, Texas.
Other Lids U stores opening this year include Castleton Square in Indianapolis; Baton Rouge Mall, Louisiana; Perimeter Mall in Atlanta, Georgia; Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, Alabama; Salles, Savannah, Georgia, Charleston, South Carolina and Tanger Outlets in Mebane, North Carolina
Lids U is the latest store format in the retailer’s expanding brick-and-mortar global retail footprint, including team-specific stores with Yankees Club and Dodgers club locations across the country. Lids also counts the National Hockey League (NHL), National Basketball Association (NBA) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as partners as it operates each league and team’s respective US and international flagship locations. To date, Lids operates nearly 1,200 stores in North America and Europe.
Last year, Lids further expanded its reach with a new partnership with Designer Brands Inc., bringing licensed athletic products to stores across the country. The result will be the opening of Lids shop-in-shop at DSW and The Shoe Company locations, strengthening its presence in major cities such as Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.
