Mitchell & Ness hopes its massive new Center City flagship store ‘celebrates the city’ — and it’ll open with a party
Mitchell and Ness’ new three-level location is opening this Saturday. Here’s everything you’ll see.
Sportswear brand Mitchell & Ness will open its new flagship location on Saturday as the city enters a major sports summer.
This month already featured a pair of playoff wins by the Sixers and Flyers, and saw the PGA Championship come to town, but that was just the start. The World Cup is weeks away, the MLB All-Star Game is set to arrive in July, and more big events are coming in August. And the Philadelphia-based brand that specializes in throwback sports apparel is set to open its massive new retail and event space in Center City, right in the middle of it all.
“This is such a perfect time to be opening this store,” said Emilie Arel, the president of Mitchell & Ness. “There are so many exciting things happening in the city this summer and so we really want to become the center point of those celebrations that sort of dance around sport and fashion and culture.”
The new three-level store, which at over 16,000 square feet is nearly seven times the size of the company’s previous space, is located at 1513 Walnut Street, in the former Brooks Brothers location. The first floor will likely be a popular stop for Philly fans, as it is where the brand will house its merchandise for local sports teams, along with a customization station and a massive hat wall.
The second floor will house jerseys of every sport, including the brand’s new WNBA line. It will also include custom sports-themed jewelry, trading cards, and more. The third floor will serve as an event space.
“This is a space that feels comfortable,” Arel said. “We built it for the community. And yes, of course, we have products for sale. ... But it’s a space that I think people will want to spend time in. ... it really comes alive in the space.”
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The new Mitchell & Ness location will also feature a 700-pound Liberty Bell replica. The bell is decorated by local artists, featuring paintings of Allen Iverson and other Philly sports legends.
“It’s an incredible piece of art and history for the city to enjoy,” Arel said. “This is a very big step up to having a real flagship that really celebrates the city, the 120-plus year history of the brand, and the sport and fashion and culture in a way we couldn’t do in our other space.”
Mitchell & Ness, which was founded in Philadelphia in 1904, was acquired in 2022 by New-York-based Fanatics, a company founded by Lafayette Hill native Michael Rubin. Its prior location at 1306 Walnut St. has been turned into a pop-up soccer shop for the World Cup.
The store is hosting a weekend of events to celebrate its opening. On Saturday, doors open at 10 a.m. for a full-day block party that includes free custom embroidery with purchases, food trucks, half-court shootouts, and prizes. Plus, the first 100 fans take home a $25 gift card.
On Sunday, the store will host a community and culture day. There will be a live DJ set, a designer and contractor recognition ceremony to honor the Philly designers and trades who built the store, and live conversations with Paul Farber, the curator behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s “Rising Up” exhibit, and Sixers photographers Maggie Zerbe and Max Molina.
“I’m not sure there’s any other city that loves their teams more than the city of Philadelphia,” Arel said. “So, we’re excited to contribute to that overall vibe in the city.”
