Space within the upcoming Grand Central Birmingham shopping centre is quickly filling up, with the development expected to bring a significant boost to the city centre when it opens later this year. The latest retailer to bag a unit is Foyles, with the Birmingham outlet to be only the second outside of London for the popular bookseller.
Foyles will take up a 4,300 sq ft unit at Grand Central, with the majority of the space to be dedicated to customer floor space. However, it will also have access to a goods-in area as a means of efficiently re-stocking shelves emptied by commuters stopping in on their way to the refurbished New Street Station below the shopping centre.
Grand Central Birmingham leasing director, Keith Stone, believes the arrival of the bookseller will prove to be a real coup for the centre.
He says; “We are delighted that Foyles has chosen to open its Birmingham store at Grand Central, joining an exciting array of premium retailers, restaurants and cafes already signed up.
“Foyles will be a major attraction for shoppers and commuters using the new world class station and will broaden the retail offering of Grand Central beyond fashion and accessories.”
Although the bookseller has become one of the most well respected retailers of its kind, the opening of the Birmingham branch will bring its retail property portfolio to only six as it closed its Foyles Westfield London (White City) unit earlier this month. Four of its other branches are located in London, with the fifth having opened in Bristol’s Cabot Circus in March 2011.
The Grand Central unit will be of a similar size to its Westfield Stratford City, Royal Festival Hall and London Waterloo Station stores, and directors at the family owned business have confirmed that the new branch will be decorated in a similar style to these destinations. CEO Sam Husain has already voiced his excitement about the expansion of the brand, citing the presence of the 250,000 sq ft John Lewis anchor tenant as a major draw.
He said; “Grand Central Birmingham fulfils all of our criteria for a new store – a landmark retail destination with high footfall and a quality retail mix, including our neighbours John Lewis.
“We look forward to selling books to new customers in the West Midlands, whether they are local residents, visitors to Grand Central Birmingham or travellers passing through New Street Station.”
Although the official opening of Grand Central Birmingham is still 8 months away, industry experts are already forecasting that the 500,000 sq ft development will attract around 50 million visitors per year. Furthermore, they believe it will help in reinforcing New Street Station’s position as the busiest train station outside of London in the UK, thus helping the city’s tourism industry go from strength to strength.
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