Lids is taking the leap overseas.
The largest brick-and-mortar retailer of licensed sports apparel is opening four stores in London this month and has plans to significantly expand its reach in the U.K. next year.
All told, Lids is projecting it will have 20 stores operating in the U.K. by the end of 2022, according to Britten Maughan, the firm’s president.
“We have a large rollout plan,” he said. “London is a natural fit for Lids. The enthusiasm for both American sports and streetwear aligns with our on-field and fashion-focused hat and jersey assortment. We are excited to bring our brand and product to market.”
The first store opened in Seven Dials in Covent Garden last Friday and the second, at 02 Peninsula Square, is expected to open within a few days. The other two units will be in the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex and the Churchill Square Shopping Centre Russel Place in Brighton, which will open later this month.
The international rollout is part of the strategic growth plan put in place by Lids’ majority owner, Ames Watson, a Bethseda, Md.-based private…
