The popular, Brooklyn-based premium running apparel brand has cultivated a loyal following with its sleek designs and bold marketing campaigns
Bandit Running is making a bold entry into the Chicago market with a new flagship store, its first outside of its New York City birthplace.
The Windy City welcomes the brand’s third store overall, in addition to a pop-up in LA, which boasts a sleek and modern design created in partnership with Hardgoods design company.
Officially opening on Friday, January 16, and located in the Bucktown neighborhood, the flagship location was crafted with community in mind. It features cement stadium seating made for pre- and post-run gatherings and a refrigerator stocked with complimentary hydration drinks for Bandit members, who unlock it by scanning their digital membership card.
“We’ve experienced an incredible energy in Chicago around our pop-ups and the Chicago marathon, and wanted to find a way to more consistently and holistically serve the city’s amazing running community,” a Bandit spokesperson told Athletech News. “With stores now in NYC, LA and Chicago, we’re excited to have permanent, physical Bandit locations in cities that are such driving forces within global running culture.”
The store’s design also mimics the curvature of the brand’s signature “Current” logo, complete with a framed photograph of Bobbi Gibb, who raced the 1966 Boston Marathon without a bib before women were allowed to run the marathon (the “original bandit” — the inspiration behind the brand’s name).
Bandit’s new store also features a café run by local Chicago brand Soloway Coffee, with a full menu of drinks and pastries and a checkout bar crafted from stainless steel, glass and marble.
“Our stores are built first and foremost from and for the way runners embrace running culture in cities,” the spokesperson said. “Elevated, inviting, and design-forward, they’re intended to create a genuine point of connection between the brand and the city, and among runners themselves.”
Additionally, customers will see a series of convex traffic mirrors manufactured in Brooklyn, suspended from the ceiling.
“The mirrors reference street infrastructure — ideas of safety, awareness, and motion,” said Bandit’s lead designer, Ale Iaccarino. “As people move through the space, the reflections multiply product, people and energy, creating depth and a sense of constant movement at the center of the store.”
The brand stated it wanted to honor Chicago’s “rich architectural legacy through a space that is both intentional and inviting.”
At the store’s opening, Bandit will also unveil an exclusive Chicago Capsule collection, featuring six core items: a hoodie, two cotton tees, a custom Chicago Lite Run sock and two performance run hats. Throughout the weekend, the brand will host community events including a block party and a community run/breakfast.
Although the brand hasn’t revealed plans for future store locations, Bandit is looking to expand it’s engagement with other running communities.
“We’re constantly evaluating how and where physical spaces can deepen a runner’s connection to the sport,” the spokesperson told ATN. “For us, stores aren’t about footprint for footprint’s sake. They’re about showing up in ways that feel additive to a city’s running culture. When and where that makes sense, we’ll explore it thoughtfully.”
The brand has increased its visibility elsewhere throughout the country, making its LA debut in 2025 with a Silver Lake pop-up.
Bandit has developed a cult-like following among runners, grabbing attention with its Unsponsored Project, which for the past three years has offered resources and visibility to top-tier runners without traditional sponsorships, but who are still competing in major events like the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
