JD Sports doubles Bullring presence

JD Sports has doubled its presence at Birmingham’s Bullring & Grand Central, after opening the doors to an upsized store at the scheme.

The store spans 27,500 sq ft and is the sportswear retailer’s biggest opening this year. It features dedicated areas for brands including Adidas, Nike, Under Armour, The North Face, and Berghaus.

Scheme owner Hammerson said the signing is reflective of its strategy to enliven its estate with high profile brands, concepts, and market firsts.

Toby Tait, director asset management at Hammerson, said: “JD’s upsize is a testament to the attractiveness of Bullring & Grand Central and the continued ‘flight to quality’ we are experiencing across our portfolio, with high-profile brands seeking the very best locations. Our strong pipeline demonstrates the success of our strategy and the confidence we have in evolving and future proofing our assets to attract the best quality brands and concepts.”

JD Sports becomes the latest in a number of retailers to join Bullring and Grand Central, following the signings of Nike Rise, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Watches of Switzerland, and M&S. Leisure concepts which have recently opened at the scheme include Sandbox VR and bowling brand Lane7, as Hammerson looks to diversify the centre’s brand mix.