Fashion giant Gap opens first Czech stores in Prague, Ostrava

Earlier this year, we reported that American clothing retailer Gap would be opening its first stores in the Czech Republic in 2020.

Though Irish discount store Primark has pushed back its plans for opening in Prague this year, Gap quietly opened its first two locations in the Czech Republic this weekend with stores at Prague's Westfield Chodov and Ostrava's Forum Nová Karolina shopping centers.

Though slated to open earlier this fall, shops and services in the Czech Republic have generally been closed for most of the past two months due to the country's anti-COVID-19 measures.

Gap opened its first two Czech locations with the easing of those measures, from Thursday, December 3.

"Interest has exceeded our expectations," CS Retail 1969 CEO Jan Fahoun stated in a press release. CS Retail 1969 is Gap's exclusive distributor on the Czech and Slovak markets.

"It was confirmed that although the Gap brand has never officially operated on the Czech market, awareness of it is high."

The Gap location in Westfield Chodov is split into two stores focused on adult and children's fashion. Citing a lack of options on the local market, Fahoun states that interest in the boy's collection is especially high.

Other Gap locations are coming soon. Just in time for Christmas, an additional Gap store is slated to open next week at the Nový Smíchov shopping center in central Prague.

Additional Gap stores are expected to open across the Czech Republic and Slovakia over the coming years. Gap inc. also owns brands including Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Janie and Jack, which could be headed to a Czech shopping center near you in the future.

If you aren't near a Czech Gap location, or don't want to brave the holiday mall experience due to COVID-19 concerns, Gap also offers a Czech e-shop with an expanded selection of goods and free shipping for registered customers.