A landmark letting has seen a North East firm take on a prominent city centre store which has lain empty for more than a year.
The former Outfit shop on Northumberland Street in Newcastle city centre has lain empty for more than a year, after tenants Arcadia Group announced it was quitting the site last May.
Now, as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on the high street retail sector, a Northumberland independent has emerged as the growing retailer set to move in.
W&M Wholesale, based in Cramlington, Northumberland, are set to launch new venture People’s Choice within the prominent building, specialising in clothing, footwear and accessories.
It’s not yet known how many jobs the new venture will create, but an opening date is set to be revealed soon.
People’s Choice will take over the basement, ground and first floor of the 32,573sqft building, keeping the second floor for potential expansion while using the third floor for storage.
It is not yet known how many jobs the new venture will create, but an opening date is set to be revealed soon.
The firm said: “The store will range clothing, footwear and accessories for all ages at unbeatable prices and great value.
“We are a North East based business, and the opportunity to retail in the heart of the region by locating the store in the main shopping street in Newcastle is what drives us as a business.
“The store will offer a vast range of men’s, women’s and kids’ clothing, footwear and accessories which will all be at unbeatable prices and great value to all. This range will be constantly updated with great deals in line with the season and popular trends.”
The opening will mark a new era for the prominent Northumberland Street property, which has only been home to national chain retailers until now.
It was the North East base for Outfit – which brought together brands including Topman, Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Burton, Wallis and Dorothy Perkins – from 2017 until Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group announced plans to close it in May 2019.
Before that it hosted Next, before the fashion and home retailer moved into intu Eldon Square, and then BHS, until the department store chain’s collapse in 2017.
People’s Choice was represented by Ian Angus of North East based Property Consultants @retail, who said: “The retail property market and indeed the appearance of our High Streets generally, on both a national and regional level, has changed markedly in recent years and will continue to do so in the years to come due to changing shopping habits and consumer expectations.
“Perhaps this will be for the better in terms of variety, with new entrants to the market and greater accessibility to prime locations for local Independent operators due to falling rental values and weaker levels of demand from the Multiples.
“Covid-19 has compounded and accelerated this process in a way no-one could have envisaged six months ago and whilst it has had a devastating impact on many businesses it still holds true that there is opportunity in adversity.
“It’s wonderful to see a locally based retailer follow in the footsteps of such High Street stalwarts as Next, BHS and Arcadia’s Outfit Store in occupying these premises on Northumberland Street.”