Biggest JD sports store EVER prepares to open at the Trafford Centre
It's only weeks away from opening now, and will be the biggest JD sports store in the world
Sports giant JD is preparing to open its biggest EVER store - with signs now going up at the Trafford Centre to confirm the opening will be within weeks.
The Bury-based sports retailer now has over 4,500 stores worldwide, and is known for selling branded sports and casual wear.
The new JD Trafford Centre store will become its flagship when it opens in "early June".
Plans were first announced for the vast new 42,400 sq ft superstore over three years ago.
But shoppers won't have to wait too much longer before seeing exactly what is in store at the sprawling new JD which will take over a vast section of retail space on Regent Crescent in the lower mall.
When the plans were first announced in 2022, JD promised they'd be creating a "unique flagship" in the space.
A spokesman said at the time: "The new store will feature a bespoke take on our latest cutting edge concept and will bring more of the very best brands to our loyal customer base in the North West."
Signs are now up across the store hoardings stating: "The biggest ever JD open June". An exact date for the grand opening is set to be announced soon, with June now just a couple of weeks away.
JD Sports was first established by John Wardle and David Makin back in 1981 where they traded from a single shop in Bury. They first opened the business as "John David Sports", but over time it became shortened to JD, a combination of the first letter of their names.
It has now grown to over 4,500 stores in 36 countries worldwide, amid a boom in demand for sportswear fashions from big brands like Nike and Adidas, hailing itself "the undisputed king of trainers".
The new JD will be the latest of a number of big openings and expansions being planned this summer at the Trafford Centre. As the MEN reported last month, a huge deal has been signed with fashion giant who is taking over the former M&S site on Peel Avenue.
It will see the arrival of new fashion store Bershka, while popular brands Zara and Pull & Bear will both be moving to larger stores on Peel Avenue from their current locations in the mall.
Those changes run alongside a number of other refurbishments and relocations taking place over the next few months in the iconic shopping centre.
Lacoste is relocating to a larger store, Hollister is being refurbished and Moss is relocating, among others.
Gymshark is also set to open in the summer, at Upper Peel Avenue.
The mall also unveiled at the start of the year its new food court Eastern Garden, which celebrates independent brands from Greater Manchester, including Blanchflower, Hello Oriental, Nichi and Chit 'n' Chaat.