A Burst Pipe From Extreme Cold Forces Puma to Shutter NYC Flagship ‘Until Further Notice’

New York City’s persistent streak of extreme cold weather has forced Puma to close its Fifth Avenue flagship store, FN has learned.

In a brief statement sent to FN, a Puma representative confirmed that the store is “closed until further notice” because of water damage in the building caused by a burst pipe. “We are currently assessing the damage,” the rep added.

The two-level, 24,500-square-foot flagship, located at 609 Fifth Avenue, opened in 2019 to much fanfare. At the time of the opening, the store was Puma’s largest and most technologically advanced store in the world.

The flagship wraps around the southeast corner of 49th Street, providing major exposure. The site was previously occupied by American Girl, which moved to a smaller location within Rockefeller Center.

The store’s dramatic all-glass facade mimics the pattern on the soles of its classic suede sneakers and enables views well into the store, drawing shoppers in. The store also features 27-foot-high ceilings, with product zoned off by category on the two selling levels.

In January, Anta Sports confirmed a deal to acquire a 29.06 percent stake in Puma SE for $1.8 billion from Groupe Artémis, the investment company of the Pinault family. The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of 2026, will make Anta the brand’s largest shareholder.

Inside Puma’s Fifth Avenue flagship in NYC.

Courtesy of Puma

The deal came at a time when Puma faced a tough road ahead to turn around its business. In October, Puma logged a third-quarter sales drop of 10.4 percent as its new chief executive officer Arthur Hoeld also outlined his plans for the strategic reset.

Organic sales at Puma fell 10.4 percent in the third quarter to 1.96 billion euros. Earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT, also collapsed, with both adjusted and reported EBIT falling by more than 80 percent.

The German activewear firm cited a strategic “reset” as it navigates “several company-specific challenges, including muted brand momentum, elevated inventory levels across the trade and low quality of distribution.”

Puma’s Manhattan flagship closure comes as at least 19 people have died due to the recent bitter cold snap in NYC, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.