Retailer Athleta opens in Saddle Creek North
Athleta, a women’s athletic wear retailer, opened July 31 at Saddle Creek North in Germantown.
The store, by Gap Inc., hosted events each day that week to celebrate the grand opening.
The shopping center used to feature a Gap. Although it closed, Heather Nordtvedt, marketing manager of Saddle Creek, said the center is excited to have the company’s athletic store.
“Gap announced in 2017 that they were shifting their business focus to Athleta and Old Navy,” Nordtvedt said. “Old Navy just returned to Germantown last month (in Germantown Village Square). Our Banana Republic is an original tenant — they’ve been at Saddle Creek since we opened in 1987, and they’re a strong performer.”
This is the first Athleta store in the Memphis area and the second in the state. Nashville and Little Rock have the closest store locations currently.
Athleta will be in Saddle Creek North between American Threads and White House/Black Market, and two doors down from its sister company, Banana Republic. It is taking the space of three former stores, Janie & Jack, Origins and Monsoon Children’s.
Athleta joins Lululemon as an athletic clothing store in Saddle Creek. They are on different sides of Poplar Avenue, and both offer free fitness classes. Lululemon offers men and women’s clothing, while Athleta offers women’s active wear.
“Athleta and Lululemon both have their own loyal followings, and their merchandise mix varies,” Nordtvedt said. “If you look at other high-end lifestyle centers around the country, you’ll see many that offer both Athleta and Lululemon.”
Nordtvedt said the store would regularly host fitness classes, and it will have a week full of classes including yoga, pilates and bootcamp to celebrate the new store.