Hat World, Inc., which operates the Lids chain, has added 150,000 square feet of warehouse space at its second facility in Indianapolis, doubling the square footage at that location. The retailer and manufacturer of hats and sports apparel now leases 500,000 total square feet from two buildings owned by Duke Realty in Park 100 on the city’s northwest side that serve as Lids corporate headquarters, and warehouse, production and manufacturing facilities for operations in the United States.
In June 2010, Lids Sports Group joined Governor Mitch Daniels and Mayor Greg Ballard to announce plans to invest $22 million and create up to 571 new jobs by 2015. That announcement included leasing 150,000 square feet at 5349 W. 76th Street for the relocation of its LIDS Team Sports division from Madison, Wisconsin.
“LIDS explosive growth since consolidating its operations in Indianapolis is phenomenal,” said Mayor Greg Ballard in a statement. “We take the job and investment commitments companies make to the city seriously and are thrilled when success comes this quickly.”
The company reports it has created 185 new jobs since the economic development announcement 13 months ago.
“Doubling the square footage at our West 76th Street location is the direct result of LIDS ongoing growth initiatives across all divisions of our company, and reinforces the commitment we made to the City of Indianapolis last year to create employment opportunities,” said Lids Sports Group President Ken Kocher. “This additional warehouse space will play a key role in our ongoing growth plans.”
“Lids Sports Group’s continued growth over the past 15 years has required an ongoing need for flexible space for its operations,” said Charlie Podell, senior vice president of Duke Realty’s Indiana operations. “We are pleased that we not only have been able to continue to provide Lids with the space it needs, but also to enable it to maintain operations within Park 100, eliminating the need for a major move and disruption of its work force.”
Lids Sports Group’s free-standing 200,000 square-foot corporate headquarters is located at 7555 Woodland Drive and serves as the company’s primary warehouse and distribution center for retail and e-commerce operations. That building currently operates at close to capacity thanks to the influx of new hires and merchandise needed to support Lids Sports Group’s diversifying retail businesses Lids Locker Room and Lids Clubhouse.
Lids Locker Room is a mall-based retailer of sports headwear, apparel, accessories and novelties. Lids Clubhouse operates team-specific professional sports and university athletics retail stores and e-commerce websites.
The LIDS Sports Group, operating within Hat World, Inc., is comprised of the LIDS retail headwear stores, the LIDS Locker Room specialty fan retail chain, the LIDS Clubhouse retail stores, the LIDS Team Sports wholesale team sports business and its Internet businesses, www.lids.com, www.lids.ca, www.lidsteamsports.com and www.sportsavenue.com.
