More than four decades after Air Jordans first hit the market, the United States finally has a flagship store dedicated entirely to the Jordan Brand.
The long-awaited location opened on October 3, 2025, in Philadelphia, a city steeped in sports tradition and history. It’s the first American addition to the “World of Flight” collection, joining stores in Beijing, Milan, Seoul, and Tokyo.
For many fans, the choice of Philadelphia might come as a surprise. The brand’s deep roots in Chicago, where Michael Jordan built his basketball empire with six championships, would have made the Windy City an obvious pick.
North Carolina, Jordan’s home state, or even Oregon, the headquarters of Nike, also seemed like natural choices. Instead, the brand’s first U.S. flagship landed in a city that reflects both its competitive spirit and community values.
According to Jordan Brand’s North America general manager Jeremy Bolds, the decision was about more than geography.
“You take that combination of purpose, passion for sport, passion for community, and our intersection of sport times culture, it couldn’t be a better fit,” Bolds said when introducing the new store. He added that Philadelphia’s unique character gives the brand “the opportunity to show pinnacle retail, to offer curated collections and storytelling that you really don’t get to see from other distribution points.”
A city that matches the Jordan ethos
Philadelphia’s sports culture has long embodied the kind of grit and intensity that defined Jordan’s career. From the 76ers’ storied past to the city’s devotion to its football team, the passion of Philadelphia fans is unmatched.
The timing of the store’s opening also connects to the city’s current athletic icons, most notably Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who became a Jordan Brand athlete in August 2023. His presence features prominently throughout the store, from displays to merchandise, symbolizing the brand’s modern expansion beyond basketball.
But the relationship between Jordan Brand and Philadelphia began years before the store’s debut. The company’s Wings scholarship program, which launched in the city in 2015, has provided educational opportunities for youth and now operates internationally in places like London and Manila.
The program remains central to the brand’s mission of blending athletic excellence with social purpose, an identity the Philadelphia store embraces through its design and outreach.
The new flagship space serves as both a retail experience and a living tribute to Michael Jordan’s influence on sport and culture. Inside, visitors find a blend of exclusive apparel, art installations, and interactive storytelling designed to celebrate his impact.
One display even revisits a lesser-remembered chapter of Jordan’s playing career: his final NBA appearance, which took place in Philadelphia on April 16, 2003.
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