Grand Central
New Street Station’s shopping center will soon be named Grand Central and be given a new look. John Lewis is the anchor, but other large stores, some new to the city, are due to enter. The new precinct is set to open during September, with 60 stores, cafes and restaurants. The 500000ft² center will compare with the Victoria Quarter Leeds, The Hayes Cardiff, George Street Edinburgh and Buchanan Street Glasgow.
Occupation levels are already at 85%, including Monsoon Accessorize, Newsflow, Carphone Warehouse, The Perfume Shop, Fat Face, L’Occitane, Kiehls, Cath Kidston, Joules, The White Company, Blott and Office Shoes.
Food stores include Costa, Nandos, Sushi, Pho and Square Pie.
The Mailbox
The premier mall is due to undergo a £50m makeover. This building was a former Royal Mail sorting office. Unfortunately, the thoroughfare was open and this left shoppers open to the elements. It has been undergoing extensive renovation since 2013, which will result in this section being enclosed, with skylights.
It is due to open during spring this year, and around 70% of the units have already been let. Some of the stores remained open during the renovation period, with Hugo Boss and Gas Street Social due to enter the complex.
Harvey Nichols has been in the mall since its opening, but is due to leave its spot at the front to a new area at the heart of the center. The space it is due to occupy is double in size and due for completion at the close of March 2015.
Primark
Primark is set to dominate the Pavilions shopping center with its new four-storey store. The group purchased the center for a rumored price of £60m during last year. The Pavilions has suffered since the removal of popular stores to the new Bullring about ten years ago. The new Primark store should change this outlook.
Selfridges
They may only have been open for just over 10 years, but Selfridges have decided to invest £20m in the renovation of its Birmingham branch. They have already made big changes, such as revamping and expanding the beauty hall, increasing the space of the menswear department and bringing in a range of new brands.
Display windows have been installed between the Bullring and the store, which shows what is on offer at Selfridges and creates an artistic space. There are more revamps due during 2016.
