Wilson expands New York presence with new retail stores

New York’s retail scene just got a whole lot sportier. Wilson Sporting Goods Co. has opened its third brick-and-mortar store and its second in New York City on the Upper East Side. The store, located at 1517 Third Avenue, features the brand’s first “Equipment Room” where shoppers can rent and playtest equipment before purchasing. Rental fees for equipment range from 5 dollars to 10 dollars per day based on product, with rental fees subtracted from the final price if purchased.

The two-story neighborhood store is spread over 8000 square feet and features a multi-use design court designed to test out the brand’s expansive selection of sportswear and equipment. The store also features a full-time rack stringing maestro, ball glove personalization, club fittings, and a golf simulator.

The Upper East Side store follows the brand’s Chicago and Soho flagships and precedes the third New York location opening in Columbus Circle this summer.

“New York continues to be a priority market for Wilson as we expand our retail footprint,” said Gordon Devin, president and general manager of Wilson Brand, in a statement. “From permanent retail locations to pop-ups, we will celebrate athletes of all levels and offer them the best of Wilson, ranging from premium products to curated experiences.”

The new store offers a curated selection of equipment across a variety of sports categories, including the official basketballs of the NBA and WNBA, the Duke – the official ball of the NFL, A2000 gloves, leading tennis rackets like the Pro Staff and Clash, and D9 Irons. The store will also house Wilson’s athletic-lifestyle sportswear collection, available for both men and women.

In addition to their new Upper East Side store and upcoming Columbus Circle store, Wilson has pop-up locations planned throughout the summer. Additionally, Wilson will debut their annual pop-up at the U.S. Open, where Wilson has been the official ball and racket stringer for over 40 years.

“Wilson has already seen huge success in the brick-and-mortar space with our Chicago Heritage store and SoHo Flagship store,” said Erin Pelton, director of Wilson’s retail stores in North America, to FashionUnited. “We've worked hard to reimagine each space beyond a commerce destination making each location more interactive and inclusive for our guests."