page_title: NBA Store
section_title: New York City
hierarchical_section_title: NBA Store / New York City
caption_attribution_description: English: (From top left to right) NBA legends Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Clyde Drexler, George Gervin, Dave Cowens, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Earl Monroe, (Bottom left to right) Bill Russell, Robert Parish, Moses Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar pose with the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy for the 2005 NBA Legends Tour: Destination Finals kick off held at the NBA store. The Tour will visit various cities and United Service Organizations (USO) supported military installations as part of the NBA's on going effort to support service members during the upcoming playoff season.
context_page_description: The NBA Store is a chain of officially licensed retailers which sell merchandise for the National Basketball Association. The most prominent of these stores is located in the United States on Fifth Avenue and 45th Street, Manhattan, New York. There are seven other locations outside the United States: one in Milan, Italy, two in Beijing, China, one in Taipei, Taiwan, and three in the Metro Manila; the newest store in Cebu City, Philippines.
  The New York location is run by online retailer Fanatics, who also runs the League's online store at NBAStore.com. The NBA Store sells over 35,000 pieces of NBA merchandise and features several attractions; it is often visited by players, celebrities, and political leaders. It also serves as a headquarters for the NBA where the association hosts charity events.
  Since opening its first store in 1998, the NBA has seen increasing business opportunities in foreign markets mainly due to the influx of new international players. The biggest growth has been in China, where players Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian, combined with the interest generated by the 2008 Summer Olympics, created enough demand to open two new stores.
context_section_description: Established in the fall of 1998, the 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m²) store offers free video games, TV screens displaying live broadcasts and game action footage, and other attractions, like player measurement charts. Among its many products, the store sells current NBA & WNBA jerseys, replica jerseys of retired players, footwear, collectibles, photography, and other gifts. It has several departments, such as a home section, where customers can buy items like pillows, plates, and other NBA related items.
  NBA employees, including players, receive a 30% discount on their purchases.
  It's really meant to be in the world's most important city and the most complete collection of N.B.A. products and experiences staged in one place.
  — Rick Welts, chief marketing officer of the N.B.A.
  Construction involved removing beams to make space for a 36-by-54-foot hole in the bottom three floors of the existing 41 story building.
  Steve Candeloro has been the store's concierge since it opened in 1998. The store is frequently visited by celebrities, tourists, and NBA players who are in town to play the New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets. The NBA Store has been visited by important guests such as former President Bill Clinton, and the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, who received a personal tour by NBA Commissioner David Stern. The store is also host to The NBA Store Concert Series, concert events where musical artists perform at the store's half court; some previous performers include: Michelle Branch, Destiny's Child, Run DMC, and Aaron Carter.
  The NBA Store in New York City allowed its customers to rent areas for birthday parties or other private celebrations and has hosted charity events in the past. During Christmas 2006, the wife of NBA player Dwyane Wade volunteered at the NBA Store Holiday Toy Drive.
  The New York Knicks regularly held events like Autographs for Supplies at the NBA Store where New York players like Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph, and WNBA's Kym Hampton meet fans and signs items in an effort to raise school supplies for children and stress academics. In 2007, the store held a fashion exhibition to celebrate the Casual Male Retail Group acquisition of the men's big & tall clothing company Jared M., a company popular among athletes and celebrities for its custom sportswear; several NBA players were happy to show their support since the founder had fitted many of them in the past.
  In 2007, the most sold team paraphernalia were from the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and the 2006 NBA champions the Miami Heat. The following year, the Lakers and Knicks retained their top spots, but the Heat were replaced by the new 2008 NBA champions the Boston Celtics.
  The NBA Store's main outlet in New York City was closed on February 13, 2011, due to high rent. "The amount of dollars the landlord is requiring from the next tenant, we couldn't find a way to make it work," NBA executive vice president of global merchandising Sal LaRocca said. While the league searched for a new location  the store operated temporarily at 590 Fifth Avenue until August 2015. The store reopened at its new permanent location at 545 Fifth Avenue on December 21, 2015.
caption: Former NBA players at the New York store in 2005
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