Rome — On July 30, Gap Inc. opened its first flagship store in Rome, Italy, on Via del Corso, the city’s premier shopping district. The company plans to open four more stores in Italy this year.
Rome — Gap Inc. has opened its first Gap flagship store in Rome on Via del Corso, the city’s premier shopping district. The new store is part of Gap Inc.’s ongoing strategy to expand globally. The company opened its first Gap and Banana Republic stores in Milan in November 2010. Within a few months, the two stores combined were among the top performing stores in the company’s global fleet.
The company expects to open four additional Gap and Banana Republic stores in Italy this year. The company also recently introduced its outlet concept to the country and expects to open additional stores in Italian outlet centers. Gap Inc. currently operates more than 190 company-operated stores in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Italy. The company also has more than 180 franchise stores in 25 countries throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Australia.
The new flagship store was designed with style and functionality in mind, while embracing the building’s rich history. It represents Gap Inc.’s unique approach to international store design: blending what’s native to the store and local community with what’s distinctly American and Gap. The two-story, 14,111-square-foot space was originally a bank and most recently a book store. To celebrate this heritage, the store has a book corner and sell a variety of art and style books. Several of the structure’s original elements have been conserved including a 1940s mural by Giulio Russo showcasing men on a scaffold wearing white T-shirts and denim. Gap has also reinterpreted and localized Gap’s American store design through the use of premium materials such as marble and warm toned woods. At the heart of the stores is a floating white staircase composed of stone and white glass and a sky light positioned directly above.
The store houses Gap adult, GapKids, babyGap and GapBody. For more information, visit www.gap.eu.
Gap Inc. operates under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta brands. Fiscal year 2010 net sales were $14.7 billion. For more information, visit www.gapinc.com.