As retailers continue to expand amidst a favourable consumer environment, shopping centres in particular are noting a strong uptick in demand for prime units. This has seen the St David’s Shopping Centre in Cardiff sign a lease agreement with high end jewellery brand Alba Rose, which will soon open its first Welsh store at the retail destination.
Alba Rose specialises in the sale of wedding and engagement rings and, to date, has only four other stores in the UK. The official opening date has been set for May, with executives at the jewellery brand hoping its offering will prove popular with local consumers and visitors to the Welsh capital.
Managing director at Alba Rose, Ryan Edkins, says; “This is an exciting expansion for the brand and we are delighted with the location at St David’s, close to other premium specialist retailers.
“We are looking forward to introducing our diverse range of 100 per cent British made rings to Wales.”
The 863 sq ft unit soon to be occupied by Alba Rose lies at The Hayes end of the development, and the jeweller will be able to count brands including L’Occitane, Thomas Sabo, Swatch, Crabtree & Evelyn and Pen Shop as neighbours. The initial lease agreement covers a 10 year period.
The St David’s Shopping Centre is owned and operated by the St David’s Partnership – a joint venture between retail property specialists intu and Land Securities. It has played a key role in raising Cardiff’s prestige as a shopping and leisure destination for consumers across the UK since opening in 2009.
Regional director of intu Julian Wilkinson, speaking on behalf of the St David’s Partnership, hopes that the introduction of Alba Rose to the centre will further increase St David’s reputation for prime retailing.
He says; “We have a very established selection of high quality jewellers at St David’s, including Welsh gold specialists Clogau which opened its first UK store at the centre 18 months ago.
“We are delighted that Alba Rose, an exciting new brand to Wales, will be joining the shopping offer at St David’s.”
With over 180 retail units across 1.4 million sq ft of shopping and leisure space, the St David’s Shopping Centre is one of Cardiff’s most popular destinations for consumers.
In the past five years, the centre has welcomed a wide selection of top end and high street retail and restaurant brands – often becoming the first Welsh destination for firms seeking to expand into the country.
Last year saw Primark, Beauty Studio by Superdrug and MAC Cosmetics sign lease agreements, along with the opening of Wahaca’s first restaurant outside the South East.
