First Look: Lids to open new concept store in Houston

Lids is expanding a new store format based on an e-commerce concept it launched in 2022.

The sports retailer will open Lids HD (Hat Drop) at the Houston Galleria, Houston, on April 14. The 1,318-sq.-ft. store leans into key trends with exclusive and limited availability of headwear products. It is the second physical location for the concept, with the first in Queens, N.Y.

In February 2022, Lids retailer unveiled Lids HatDrop.com, an online site featuring limited-edition and exclusive headwear collections, with products dropped twice weekly. In a similar pattern, Lids HD in Queens releases a limited quantity of new exclusive hats every Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

Hats will drop at the Houston location at the same time as the Lids Hat Drop Queens store, encouraging consumers to shop in-store to secure their coveted hat given.

“LidsHatDrop.com has seen hat enthusiasts flock to the website week after week for exclusive caps that can only be purchased online,” the company stated.  “While each drop sells out in minutes, Lids wanted to continue their push of storefronts and bring this concept idea straight to the consumer.”

The new Lids HD will feature digital screens showcasing the brand’s own content including new hat drops, dedicated spaces for drops, and an area for apparel and merchandise. Shoppers can also customize their headwear with an array of designs.

Houston has remained one of Lids’ most important markets in the country because of its love for headwear, due in large part to its influential hip-hop culture, the company said. 

The Houston store is part of Lids’ ongoing brick-and-mortar expansion. In July, the company debuted a new retail format, Lids University, which is focused on collegiate sports product and apparel.  In September, the company opened its largest location to date, a two-story, 12,000-sq.-ft. flagship on the Vegas Strip.

Read More: Lids opens its largest store yet]

Lids operates more than 1,500 stores throughout North America, Europe, and Australia.  It is the world's largest retailer specializing in the sale of officially licensed, branded, and fashion headwear, with more than 30 million hats sold annually.