Helly Hansen, a leading global sailing and outdoor brand, is set to open a new flagship store in Newport in March 2025. The store, located at 124 Thames Street (formerly a Banana Republic), will offer a broader range of technical sailing apparel and footwear, as well as marine lifestyle, winter sports, and outdoor products.
The move comes as part of Helly Hansen’s continued growth in the U.S. market and its commitment to serving Newport’s renowned sailing community.
“Our continued growth in the U.S. market is testament to the innovation and quality of our clothing as well as the hard work of our teams and partners,” says Carrie Ask, CEO of Helly Hansen. “We are excited to open this flagship store and embark on this next chapter in our relationship with Newport and its globally renowned sailing community.”
The new store will enable Helly Hansen to directly support Newport, a global sailing capital, with its performance-driven apparel. The company has developed lasting partnerships with top sailing athletes and teams, as well as global sailing events, over its nearly 150-year history.
As part of this transition, the existing Helly Hansen store at 154 Thames Street will become Big Weather Gear, a multi-brand store owned by Jay Lasky. Big Weather Gear will expand its product offering to serve a more diverse clientele while continuing its partnership with the Helly Hansen group.
“We are excited and embrace this opportunity to offer more great brands that we are truly passionate about,” says Lasky, CEO of Big Weather Gear. “Our revised business model will help to make our business more responsive to the needs of the clientele who live in or near Newport, as well as the variety of visitors we receive in our coastal resort town throughout the year. We will continue to leverage what we do best – including
knowing and believing in the products we carry, allowing us to continue to deliver an outstanding customer experience to everyone we work with.”
Big Weather Gear will continue to carry Musto, a premium technical sailing brand, and Helly Hansen Workwear in its store. The company has been a fixture in Newport for three decades, specializing in premium marine, snowsports, and outdoor apparel.
For more information about Helly Hansen and its products, visit hellyhansen.com. To learn more about Big Weather Gear and its offerings, visit bigweathergear.com.