Zara upsize leads series of openings at Bullring & Grand Central

Zara is set to significantly upsize its store at Hammerson’s Bullring & Grand Central, as the Birmingham scheme welcomes a number of new tenants.

The fashion retailer will take 51,000 sq ft across the top floor of the former Debenhams department store and an adjacent two-storey unit on Bullring’s upper level.

The two stores will offer the retailer’s full range of menswear, womenswear, and childrenswear, and will feature an ‘Automated Collection Point’, self-service, and dedicated refund tills.

Zara’s upsizing completes the repurposing of the former Debenhams store, with the lower floors now occupied by M&S and TOCA Social.

The retailer’s renewal also follows the openings of fellow Inditex-owned brands Bershka and Pull&Bear at the scheme last year.

Also joining Zara at Bullring & Grand Central this year is Swiss watch brand Swatch, which opens its debut standalone store in the city. Located on Link Street, the 800 sq ft store will have over 500 watches on display from a range of collections.

Meanwhile, footwear brand Clarks is relocating within Bullring to open its ‘modern workshop’ concept in a 4,500 sq ft unit on the lower level. Additionally, the scheme will welcome Mexican restaurant Zambrero, which takes a 580 sq ft on Bullring’s middle level, and independent retail brand Pop Street, which takes 3,900 sq ft on the scheme’s lower level.

Toby Tait, director of asset management at Hammerson, said: “The strategic repositioning of Bullring & Grand Central has seen us introduce key brands, new concepts and events to the destination. As a result, we have driven footfall and sales for our occupiers year-on-year and continue to attract best-in-class brands partners. Zara’s reinvestment alongside exciting new concept stores from Swatch and Clarks demonstrates the appeal of Bullring and endorses the success of our strategic focus.”