The Metrocentre has signalled its future lies away from ‘anchor’ department stores after signing long leases with three major retailers.
Harrods H beauty, JD Sports and H&M have all signed new long leases for flagship stores which will open at the Gateshead centre between April and June next year.
Metrocentre said the deals form part of its transformation since coming under the asset management of Sovereign Centros last October, as well as seeing a move towards ‘experience’ attractions as well as traditional retail businesses.
Read more: Elmtronics works with Metrocentre to help visitors drive electric
海角视频 London department store Harrods last month announced plans to open three new openings of its standalone H beauty stores as part of a national rollout of the brand, including its largest store to date at the Metrocentre.
H beauty shops have ‘playtables’ where customers can use products, alongside skincare stations, fast blow dry stations and champagne bars. The 30,000 sqft store in Gateshead has been signed on a 20-year lease fronting Town Square, incorporating brands such as Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana and Hourglass.
JD Sports has taken a 10-year lease on a 28,000 sq ft flagship store in Platinum Mall, upsizing from its existing 10,000 sq ft store in Upper Red Mall.
The store is being created by combining four existing units currently occupied by Flannels, Game, HMV and Paperchase all of whom are being relocated to new stores within the centre.
Most Read
Meanwhile H&M is expanding its existing store in Red Mall into a new 25,000 sq ft flagship which will incorporate its new Home concept to differentiate from its Newcastle city centre outlet. The new store is being created by relocating Hugo Boss into a new adjacent store.
Sign up for more business news straight to your inbox
Stay up to date with our daily newsletter, email breaking news alerts and weekly round-ups. To sign up, find out more and see all of our newsletters, follow the link here
Graeme Jones of Sovereign Centros, the asset and development managers for the Centre said: “These lettings really reinforce how retail in these powerful major regional centres is changing, replacing the hitherto reliance on the old department store formats as anchors with new and exciting concepts and brands which will be much more interactive for the shopper.
"These quality fashion brands are a major draw for our customers. There is a lot more to come over the coming months with some other exciting lettings lined up. “
Last October Sovereign Centros took over the reins of the Gateshead shopping and leisure complex, following the collapse into administration of previous operators Intu.
The company asset manages the centre on behalf of owners, the Metrocentre Partnership, while Savills has taken on the responsibility for the on-site property management.
Sovereign Centros said it wanted to “inject new life” into the centre and confirmed it had a number of exciting plans in store, with a potential £25m available for future investment.