San Diego hat shoppers are about to get a second spot to stock up on team gear at Fashion Valley. Lids plans to open a new store at the Simon Property Group mall in November, according to a center announcement, marking the retailer's second location inside the sprawling Friars Road shopping complex.
The new shop will carry licensed headwear, team apparel and fan-focused accessories, according to WhatNow. It's listed as coming soon near Cafe Terrace, and it will sit alongside Lids' existing Fashion Valley store at 7007 Friars Road, Suite 791. Lids' lineup typically spans NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and college team merchandise, giving shoppers a one-stop option for licensed caps and jerseys across the major sports.
A Mall Built for Browsing
Fashion Valley has been a San Diego shopping staple since it opened in 1969, and the center now spans more than 1.7 million square feet of retail space. It's anchored by Nordstrom, Macy's, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's, giving the property a heavyweight roster of department stores that draws steady foot traffic through its corridors.
Lids describes itself as the world's largest retailer specializing in officially licensed and branded headwear, a claim that underscores why the company might want a bigger footprint inside one of San Diego's busiest malls. The outlet reported that Lids representatives did not respond to its request for more details before press time, so specifics on staffing, square footage or an exact opening date remain unconfirmed.
A Pattern Beyond San Diego
The Fashion Valley expansion isn't an isolated move. Lids is also opening a new store in San Francisco's Union Square in November, according to The San Francisco Standard. That location, set for 50 Powell St. in the Flood Building, will measure 2,100 square feet — three times the size of the company's former Powell Street shop, which closed in 2023.
The San Francisco store will sell hats, clothing, trading cards and accessories with a focus on local teams, the outlet reported, and it will include a Custom Lab where shoppers can add jewels and embroidery to their hats. Lids representatives told the Standard that the company's earlier Powell Street location and its San Francisco Centre Mall store both performed well above the company average, a track record that may be fueling the retailer's broader push into bigger-format shops this fall.
Back in San Diego, no word yet on whether the new Fashion Valley location will mirror the San Francisco store's customization features or larger footprint. For now, shoppers can expect the same lineup of licensed headwear and fan gear that's long been available at the mall's original Lids store, just with a second storefront to check come November.
