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Retail Property Deals

BOSS opens upsized Liverpool ONE store

24th July 2023

BOSS has opened its new-look space at Grosvenor’s Liverpool ONE, having announced its relocation and upsizing last year. The 13,500 sq ft store on Paradise Street represents an increase in size to 130% of its previous trading area at the Liverpool scheme. BOSS’s new Liverpool ONE store stocks the luxury retailer’s range of menswear and womenswear alongside seasonal collections, and offers made-to-measure services, click-and-collect facilities, and personal styling appointments. The retailer joins other premium brands on Paradise Street, including Charlotte Tilbury and Goldsmiths. Rob Deacon, senior asset manager, Grosvenor, said: “BOSS’s considerable upsize is another great endorsement of Liverpool ONE’s position as one of Europe’s leading retail and entertainment destinations. We are proud to welcome the brand’s new elevated store and to continue to home one of BOSS’s best-performing locations in its portfolio, further enhancing Liverpool ONE’s line-up of leading international brands alongside local independents.” The news follows the recent opening of Hollister and Gilly Hicks at Liverpool ONE, with the two Abercrombie & Fitch brands operating under the same roof in the city for the first time. The retailers will be joined by Red Run, which is set to launch its flagship store at the centre later this year. Metis and […]

Superdrug unveils largest North-West store at Trafford Centre

21st July 2023

Superdrug has opened its largest store in the North West at Manchester’s Trafford Centre. The 8,095 sq ft store was officially opened by TV personality Charlotte Dawson and represents a greater investment into the region by the beauty retailer. The store offers the retailer’s range of health and beauty products, including Superdrug’s new own-brand cosmetics line Studio London. It will also feature a ‘Beauty Studio’ area, which houses two nail bars and eyebrow threading and piercing services, as well as a fragrance counter. Simon Layton, centre director at Trafford Centre, said: “Superdrug is a much-loved high-street giant and extremely popular with our customers, so we’re delighted that the brand has invested in a new, larger unit. We’re sure visitors will be impressed by the stunning, new-look store and wowed by the impressive range of health and beauty brands on offer.”

Luxury Leisure completes line-up at Walsall scheme

20th July 2023

Luxury Leisure has signed a lease with Real Estate Investors (REI) agreeing to join a Walsall scheme and completing the line-up at the site. The gaming and slots provider has agreed to open in a 9,500 sq ft unit at 9-11 Park Street on a ten-year lease. The agreement is one of three recently secured by REI at the scheme, with leases also signed at 86 and 87 Bradford Street. Santander renewed its lease in December for a further five years, meaning the scheme is now fully let for the first time since REI’s purchase in November 2017. Jack Sears, asset manager at REI, said: “This deal was a long time in the making, since July 2021. It was subject to us obtaining vacant possession from the previous occupier and Luxury Leisure being granted the necessary licences from the local authority. “We are delighted to have agreed these three deals, and signed a new lease with Santander, given that retailing is Walsall at present and this really breathes some life into the local high street marketplace. “It also highlights the benefits of a well situated scheme at the prominent end of Park Street and Bradford Street.” Scott Robinson at Creative […]

Chipotle ‘pre-opens’ in Guildford

19th July 2023

Chipotle has ‘pre-opened’ its latest restaurant in Guildford, offering customers free food ahead of the official opening on Friday (21st). Customers will also be able to grab a free bite to eat on Thursday as part of an ongoing promotion. The Mexican restaurant concept agreed to join Redevco’s White Lion Walk shopping arcade earlier this year alongside bubble tea operator Mooboo. Opening in a 1,700 sq ft unit, Chipotle has taken over part of a former Next store which has been divided up into multiple units. Redevco has invested £8m into the development, which will see the creation of a number of offices on the upper floor above the arcade’s ground floor retail offering. Other operators at White Lion Walk include Starbucks, Robert Dyas, and The Works.

Metrocentre welcomes largest Apricot store to date

19th July 2023

Womenswear retailer Apricot has opened its largest store to date at Gateshead’s Metrocentre. The store becomes the retailer’s 17th bricks-and-mortar site and is part of an “exciting phase of expansion”. Apricot joins a number of other fashion retailers at the centre, including Zara, Primark, and Marks & Spencer. Ben Cox of Sovereign Centros, senior asset manager for Metrocentre, said: “We’re delighted that Apricot has chosen Metrocentre for the region’s first standalone store providing further choice in womenswear, and adding to the range of new & exclusive brands in Platinum Mall, including Rowen Homes, Moda in Pelle and Skopes. “This is an exciting year for Metrocentre, with the Zara store re-opening in the autumn alongside an exciting roster of new openings planned for November.”

Red Run to kick off flagship at Liverpool ONE

19th July 2023

Women’s activewear brand Red Run is set to open its flagship store at Grosvenor’s Liverpool ONE shopping centre. Taking a 1,400 sq ft unit on Manesty’s Lane, the retailer will open in the autumn and stock a range of active streetwear for women, including exclusive collections and limited edition pieces. The brand has previously only had a physical presence through concessions in Harvey Nichols Manchester and Flannels Liverpool, as well as pop-ups in Leeds and Birmingham. The brand, which was founded during lockdown by three women, will now look to deliver an enhanced customer experience through a permanent physical format. As a Liverpool ONE exclusive, the store will host monthly in-store offerings, VIP events and collaborative activations with like-minded brands, people and businesses within the city. Rob Deacon, senior asset manager at Grosvenor, said: “Red Run is an extremely exciting brand, one which has gathered huge momentum, very quickly and clearly resonates with the Liverpool ONE visitor. To contribute to their evolution and play a part in their next big step within physical retail is an enticing prospect for us and we know the brand will be a huge success at Liverpool ONE.” The news follows the recent launch of...

Grocery price inflation eases for fourth consecutive month

18th July 2023

Grocery price inflation fell by 1.6% during the four weeks to 9 July, marking the fourth month of consecutive easing and the steepest fall since March. At 14.9%, however, grocery price inflation still remains incredibly high. Kantar, which provided the figures through its Worldpanel platform, said that while the shift in prices reflected a change in the cost of many staple goods, many customers turned to promotional items, which now make up over a quarter of the market. Major supermarkets are currently under scrutiny from the Competition and Markets Authority, who have reason to believe that they are unfairly profiteering from rising prices. Speaking to MPs last month, executives from Britain’s biggest supermarket said the market is at its “most competitive” level ever. They rejected the notion that they have been making excess profits, instead claiming that they were shielding customers from high costs. Fraser McKevitt, head of retail at Kantar, said: “One of the biggest shifts we’ve seen in this [promotions] area is retailers ramping up loyalty card deals like Tesco’s Clubcard Prices and Sainsbury’s Nectar Prices. “This could signal a change in focus by the grocers who had been concentrating their efforts on everyday low pricing, particularly by […]

Montblanc opens in Leeds

18th July 2023

Montblanc has opened its 9th boutique in the UK in Leeds. The German luxury goods retailer has taken a 431 sq ft unit on the Briggate shopping street, as it looks to continue expanding across the country. Customers at the Leeds store will be able to explore the retailer’s range of collections, including pens and watches. The retailer was drawn to the city due to its history in art and writing, citing the Leeds Art Club as an “influential forum” during the early 20th century. Georgia Noutsi, brand director of Montblanc UK and Ireland, said: “Leeds is a global cultural hub, and we are thrilled to be getting closer to our customers and to bring the Maison’s universe, collections, and customer experience to a city with culture so embedded in its history. We hope that with the new arrival of Montblanc, the Maison can continue to inspire those in Leeds to leave their mark, just like the members of The Leeds Art Club did”.

David Lloyd Clubs set for £6.5m transformation at Fulham Broadway

18th July 2023

Health, fitness, and wellness group David Lloyd Clubs is set to undergo a £6.5m transformation at Fulham Broadway, relaunching its new concept site in the first quarter of 2024. The leisure club has now begun an eight-month long programme of redevelopment which will look to transform its offering at the CBRE Investment Management-owned scheme. The new club will look to split 38,000 sq ft of leisure space over two floors, creating a redeveloped gym, group class studios, a kids area, a 20 metre indoor pool, and a spa retreat. Members will have access to a new-look clubroom, where they can relax and socialise with food and drink. A business lounge area will also be available. David Lloyd Clubs’ in-house design team has created a modern theme for the club, featuring marble and natural stone surfaces along with a neutral colour palette, as it looks to create a soft and welcoming environment for visitors. Louisa Butters, Head of Retail Asset Management UK at CBRE IM, said: “This new look bespoke David Lloyd Leisure Club will really set Fulham Broadway apart from other schemes in the capital. It will provide a destination-led leisure flagship and would be a first for West London. […]

YouTube’s Sidemen open first clothing store

17th July 2023

YouTube’s The Sidemen have begun their first venture into physical retail with the launch of their first clothing store. The group of YouTubers, whose channel boasts over 18 million subscribers, have opened the store in a 6,000 sq ft space at Kent’s Bluewater shopping centre. The opening follows the group’s venture into the food and beverage market, with its fried chicken concept, Sides, operating at Boxpark Wembley and through dozens of delivery sites nationwide. The Bluewater store sits on the scheme’s Upper Rose Gallery, next to Apricot. James Waugh, centre director at Bluewater, said: “With the ever-changing landscape of physical retail, it is important for us as industry leaders to bring digital-first brands to the centre and ensure our guest experience evolves and is enhanced. “The Sidemen shop really is something quite special and we’re in no doubt that the in-store experience will be a massive draw, not just to Sidemen fans living locally, but further afield too.” Matt Peters, managing director of Sidemen Clothing, added: “The Sidemen are undeniably pioneers in the rising world of creator-led brands and this is another huge moment which further cements that. The Sidemen and team at Sidemen Clothing are incredibly excited for the...

Hollister and Gilly Hicks launch new concept at Liverpool ONE

17th July 2023

Hollister, the teen division of Abercrombie & Fitch, has opened a new store alongside sister brand Gilly Hicks at Grosvenor’s Liverpool ONE shopping centre. The 7,300 sq ft combined store on South John Street delivers a new concept for the two brands, and sees them under the same roof in Liverpool for the first time. The new store will look to offer an omnichannel experience with a central click-and-collect area alongside order in-store and same-day delivery capabilities. Offering the retailers’ full range of clothing, including Gilly Hicks’ loungewear and activewear ranges, the new format is one of Abercombie & Fitch’s first new prototype stores in Europe. Rob Deacon, senior asset manager at Grosvenor, said: “Hollister’s substantial investment and exciting introduction of the Gilly Hicks brand is a key moment for us, particularly as it evidences yet more commitment to Liverpool ONE from global brands. Launching one of the first new prototype stores in Europe is a major endorsement for the destination and we are sure it will be a great success with the widespread teenager demographic.” Metis and CBRE acted for Liverpool ONE, while Abercrombie & Fitch Co. dealt directly. Hollister and Gilly Hicks have joined activewear and lifestyle brand […]

Postmark wraps up five former Paperchase stores

13th July 2023

Greetings card retailer Postmark has taken up residence in five former Paperchase stores in Network Rail stations. The retailer has taken over 3,755 sq ft of space across Network Rail’s London King’s Cross, London Bridge, London Waterloo, Birmingham New Street and London Victoria stations. This comes after Paperchase fell into administration in February, closing 106 stores at the cost of around 900 jobs. Network Rail said the new leases were agreed in the space of just two weeks, with the stores’ former fixtures remaining in place to speed up the opening processes. Postmark first opened in Balham, southwest London in 2004. It operated six stores across London prior to the deal with Network Rail, which sees it enter the travel retail network for the first time. Hamish Kiernan, commercial director of property for Network Rail said: “There is still strong customer appetite for a premium card and stationery operator and Postmark has been an excellent addition to our retail mix. With Postmark making its debut in travel hubs, the opportunity to work with a successful independent brand ensures our destinations continue to deliver a refreshed and engaging offer for customers. This is an essential part of our retail strategy.” Network Rail owns...