Pelé Soccer launches flagship location in New York

Pelé Soccer, a soccer apparel company, officially opened the doors of its brick-and-mortar flagship location Monday in New York. The store sits in Times Square at 1560 Broadway and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Widely regarded as one of the game’s all-time greats — if not the best ever — Pelé spent the twilight years of his playing career with the New York Cosmos.

“I am thrilled that Pelé Soccer has come to New York City, a place where soccer fans from all walks of life can come together to share their love for the game,” Pelé said. “New York was once my home, and I still think of those memories fondly. I cannot tell you how much it means to me to have a place in the Big Apple once again.”

The store is designed to give the feel of a matchday experience, with a memorabilia-filled tunnel leading shoppers to the main floor that’s modeled after a soccer pitch. Other features include stadium-esque floodlights, a Pelé mural by artist Dave Merrell (above) and a viewing area to watch games that boasts a 13-foot by 24-foot LED screen with bleachers.

The store sells team merchandise from 100-plus clubs and has a footwear section that offers boots from Adidas, Nike, Puma and more. The store also has an online presence at PeléSoccer.com and other physical locations in Miami and Orlando, Fla.

With Pelé as its brand ambassador and amenities that stretch beyond the typical soccer shop, Pelé Soccer hopes to leave its mark in Times Square by giving visitors a unique retail experience.

Here are more photos of the new flagship location:

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