Gap to open three standalone London stores this autumn and winter

Gap will return to the UK high street this autumn and winter with three standalone stores in London, the company said, marking its first company-run shops in Britain since it withdrew from the market in 2021. The American apparel retailer plans a flagship in Covent Garden in early November, followed by openings at Westfield London in early December and at the London Designer Outlet in Wembley Park later in December.

Gap said each new store will carry its full assortment of womenswear, menswear and childrenswear, including staple items such as jeans, T shirts and fleeces. The Covent Garden flagship will also feature a dedicated space intended to celebrate the brand's heritage and incorporate music and culture into the retail environment, the company said.

The move reverses Gap's 2021 decision to close all company-operated stores across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. At the time Gap said the closures were driven by "market dynamics" and a strategic shift toward becoming a digital-first business. The company continued trading online and later entered a partnership with UK retailer Next to maintain a physical presence through shop-in-shop concessions and to operate...