The retailer will use the stores to gather more information about its target audience. “As we continue to evolve our stores' environment, integrating physical and omni-channel elements for the most-engaging customer experience, we are excited to announce our new campus stores at OSU and USC,” said Stacia Andersen, the company's brand president, in a press release.

Each campus location will be about half the size of a typical Abercrombie store. The retailer says it intends to use these locations to test such digital initiatives as buy-online, pickup in-store; and 30-inch interactive screens that enable customers to shop the brand’s web site. Items placed in the online cart may be moved to a customer's mobile app or to the register at the physical store for checkout.

“We are thrilled that Abercrombie & Fitch has selected Gateway–University District as one of only two locations for the debut of its new concept,” said Christiana Moffa, property manager of Gateway–University District, in a press release. “We are already hearing from Gateway customers who are intrigued by this ‘learning lab’ approach, so we are confident they’ll connect with a lot of their audience here.”