A trio of recent noteworthy retail moves in international markets:
• Aston Villa Football Club (Birmingham, England) has opened a retail store in its home city. The 10,000-square-foot space, in the Bullring shopping center, offers team apparel, immersive fan experiences and a museum section that recounts the soccer club’s 150-year heritage.
Said David Asquith, the team’s VP of Retail: “We’ve worked hard to create a space that is immersive and aspirational, going far beyond traditional retail to proudly reflect the culture and history of Aston Villa.”
• Dave & Buster’s (Coppell, Texas) has broken ground on its first location in the Philippines, in Manila’s Opus Mall. The venue, being developed in partnership with local franchisee The Bistro Group, will feature a mix of American classics and localized dishes, state-of-the-art games and multi-use spaces for events and sports fans. (An opening date was not announced.)
The news reflects D&B’s international ambitions, which this year include opening its second venue in India, as well as new ones in Australia, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The brand currently operates 220-plus locations in North America and is also expanding across five other continents.
• Gen Z fashion brand KKV (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) has taken the wraps off its first store in Singapore, in the Tiong Bahru Plaza. The opening is the latest in the retailer’s efforts to create a strong presence in Southeast Asia. Other countries it’s targeted include its home country of Malaysia, the Philippines (where it opened two stores in March), Thailand and Vietnam.