Jordan Brand Plan First U.S. ‘World of Flight’ Store in Philadelphia

The U.S. is set to receive its first Jordan Brand ‘World of Flight’ store to further spotlight the legacy and future of basketball culture. According to initial reports from local publications like  Philly Voice, the Philadelphia Historical Commission received an application from Nike’s developer of the project, MBH Architects, for a proposed retail space in Rittenhouse located at 1617 Walnut Street.

There are currently only three ‘World of Flight’ stores worldwide – the very first one in Milan, the second one in Tokyo, and the third in Seoul. For the Philly store, the two-story 7000-square-foot Rittenhouse was built in 1921, so the submitted documents state that ‘the aim is to maintain the original character of the facade and integrate slight updates to the design details, as well as upgrade some things for better functionality’.

Proposed changes mentioned in the report include replacing the historic French door on the second floor and altering the entry of the storefront. 'The first floor of the building has been modified several times, most recently in a style which echoes features of the second floor,' the application indicates. The Historical Commission has recommended approving the first-floor modifications; however, they have recommended denying the second-floor changes due to prioritising the preservation of the building's historical character.

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