NBA Store Seeks New, Larger Location Up to 25K Square Feet 

Jump ball.

The NBA Store, which is operated by Fanatics-owned sports apparel company Lids, is planning to relocate from its longtime retail location at 545 Fifth Avenue into a larger space, Commercial Observer can first report. 

The retailer of team jerseys, collectibles and other basketball-related merchandise is exploring seven potential locations around Midtown Manhattan to expand from its current 15,000 square feet of sellable retail space that it has leased since 2015 at the corner of 45th Street and Fifth Avenue, a source familiar with the move told CO. 

Lids, which is leading the leasing process, is targeting 20,000 to 25,000 square feet of sellable space for the new store and is eyeing properties around Midtown including in Times Square, along with several vacant buildings on Fifth Avenue, according to the source.

The NBA Store lease is up at the Moinian Group-owned 545 Fifth Avenue in 2031, but the retailer is looking to have a new site lined up in about a year to have sufficient time to organize the build-out, the source said. 

Lids is looking to expand with a bigger “and more inviting ground floor” in the midst of a record year for the NBA Store, where business was bolstered this year by the New York Knicks capturing their first NBA title since 1973. In addition to adding space to sell jerseys and merchandise, the store’s operators hope to design an enhanced entrance. 

The NBA Store first launched in 1998 at 666 Fifth Avenue before setting up a smaller temporary store at 590 Fifth Avenue from 2011 to 2015, prior to relocating to 545 Fifth.

The Moinian Group did not immediately return a request for comment. Fanatics declined to comment.

Andrew Coen can be reached at acoen@commercialobserver.com.