Abercrombie & Fitch Plans Oxford Street : Another well-known brand has announced the opening of a flagship store on Oxford Street in London, which has been recovering from the nearly worst calamity in its history, COVID-19.

Two stories at 325 Oxford Street, next to Zara and on the corner of New Bond Street, will soon be home to Abercrombie & Fitch. The area was formerly occupied by Next.

Located on the first and ground floors of a building owned by property investment group Hines, which also has 31,000 sq ft of office space, it is expected to debut next year.

Both locations highlight the West End’s revival as footfall returns and spending climbs, despite some visitors still staying away owing to the change to tax-free shopping laws. The news comes only a few months after the brand built a 3,000 sq ft facility on neighboring Carnaby Street.

Its decision to open on Oxford Street instead of its Regent Street flagship is intriguing. While Oxford Street struggled in recent years, Regent Street has been booming thanks to the increasing number of A-listers leasing space there. Regent Street isn’t exactly stepping on anyone’s toes, what with Superdry having vacated the premises and Abercrombie following suit.

“We see tremendous opportunities for Abercrombie & Fitch here in London and this prime location at the crossroads of Oxford and Bond Street will add to our growing presence in the UK market,” said Scott Clarke-Bryan, Abercrombie & Fitch’s EMEA MD.

“Securing such a high profile, iconic brand as Abercombie & Fitch is a real coup for Hines and represents a fabulous addition to Oxford Street retail offering,” said Jake Walsh, Managing Director at Hines UK. As London’s most famous shopping street continues to reinvent itself as a premier location for retail, leisure, and office spaces, we are thrilled to be a part of this exciting transition.