Gap Inc. athleisure brand Athleta is entering the outlet sector, introducing two stores to its fleet this year.
The stores will debut at Chicago Premium Outlets in Illinois this summer and Leesburg Premium Outlets in Virginia this fall, underscoring the brand’s commitment to open 30 to 40 new stores in its 2022 fiscal year. Each outlet store will feature a curated assortment of Athleta’s premium performance and lifestyle product, as well as offering customers unique value on existing high-quality and on-trend Athleta styles.
“As part of our long-term strategic growth plan, Athleta is investing in new access points to reach new customers, deliver new value to customers who already know and love our brand, and expand our community of empowered women and girls,” said Mary Beth Laughton, president and chief executive officer of Athleta. “Our new outlet stores are intentionally designed to stand out from traditional outlet and clearance store models, helping drive new customer acquisition and increased brand awareness for Athleta.”
The Chicago Premium Outlets unit will feature more than 3,100 square feet of dedicated retail space this summer, while the Leesburg location will have more than 3,300 square feet. To date, Athleta has added 12 new stores in North America in 2022, with new locations in: San Francisco; Southbury, Connecticut; Park Ridge, Illinois; Lafayette, Louisiana; Cary, North Carolina; Chester, New Jersey; Reno, Nevada; Exton, Pennsylvania; Franklin, Tennessee; Riverton and Salt Lake City, Utah; and Burlington, Ontario. The company will open four more locations in Canada this year.
