Lids (store)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1995 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Founder | Douglass Karp, Ben Fischman, George Berger, Glenn Campbell, Scott Molander |
| Headquarters | Indianapolis , United States |
Area served | United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, United Kingdom |
| Products | Athletic headwear |
| Owner | Fanatics (principal shareholder as of 2024) |
| Website | www |
Hat World, Inc., operating under the trade name Lids Sports Group, is a U.S.-based retailer focused on athletic headwear. The company primarily markets its products through the Lids brand, maintaining retail locations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, in addition to several online platforms. The majority of its outlets are situated within shopping malls and factory outlet centers.
History
Established in 1993 in Boston by Douglass Karp and Ben Fischman, Lids Corp. laid the groundwork for the brand. Separately, Hat World, Inc. was created in 1995 by George Berger, Glenn Campbell, and Scott Molander, initially headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD. The company launched its inaugural store at Tippecanoe Mall in Lafayette, Indiana in November 1995, followed by a second location at Muncie Mall. Its operational and distribution centers were based in Indianapolis, where the corporate headquarters eventually moved. After Lids Corp. declared bankruptcy in 2001, Hat World purchased certain Lids stores along with trademarks and assets, subsequently rebranding its retail outlets from "Hat World" to "Lids."
In April 2004, Hat World (operating as Lids) was acquired by footwear company Genesco Inc.. Later in 2019, Genesco divested Lids to a partnership between Ames Watson LLC and Fanatics, Inc. That same year, rapper Meek Mill acquired an ownership interest. Moreover, Lids expanded its portfolio by acquiring Fanzz in 2019.
By 2024, Fanatics had become the principal shareholder of Lids Holdings.