New shops in the city centre

[paulmat]

As we all know, Sheffield's (city centre) retail is nowhere near up to scratch. Here's a thread for us to discuss new shops, what shops we want to see, what shops we want to get rid of etc.

I'll start us off with the unit next to River Island. It's now been taken up by 'the Perfume Shop'. I'm really quite indifferent to this. It's just another shop, although one we don't have in the city centre already.

Also, which shops do you reckon we'll see in the NRQ and Moor redevelopments? My reckonings are:

Next - Large new unit, possible of a similar size to the one in Manchester
H&M - Another store to accommodate menswear and other sections which are missing from the current one
Topshop/Topman - New larger store, possibly allowing Dorothy Perkins to expand and use both floors of the current Fargate unit (or visa-versa)
Republic
FCUK
Animal
Zara

Dunno what else. Any suggestions?

[paulmat]

Also, a bit less significant, but an application has gone in to turn the ground floor of the building next to the old fire station on west bar (at least I think it's that one ) into retail (A1/A3) space. Should be good in that area, what with all the offices and apartments.

[atc367squadron]

Good thread Paul, i've been thiking about creating a 'Retail in Sheffield' thread for a while now.

I think Starbucks are opening a Cafe in Orchard Square as well! I know it's not really retail but worth mentioning.

[tom85]

Along with Topshop and Top man I imagine that all the other arcadia brands will also open new outlets as they have done in Manchester, I'd quite like to see House of Frasiers move back into the centre though possibly down by Castle gate which could become the more 'exclusive' end of the City following the removal of the Market.

Personally H of F would be the only shop I would use or maybe an extended Hennes , If you want all the chains and the crap they sell there is Meadowhell. But I do understand that if Sheffield is to attract the fashion victim masses you need the big chains. I still maintain Division street as it is is the best shopping street (for Men) that i Know of!!

[paulmat]

We really should have flagship Topshop/Topman stores (and others from the Arcadia group). I mean, Topshop did start in Sheffield and the Arcadia group originated from Chesterfield.

[tom85]

Well my girlfriend is a merchendiser for them in London so I'l get her to have a word with Big Phil Green haha

[paulmat]

They'll probably have no loyalty to Sheffield however. But you could give it a go

[tom85]

I doubt they have any loyalty to anywhere and thats why they are so successfull they have their biggest stores where they get the biggest turnover. But you never know what with Gordon encouraging large multinationals to give something back to the community.

[Leeds No.1]

You could do with a better Primark and Virgin Megastore!

All your suggestions are good though.

[muddycoffee]

Originally Posted by paulmat

Next - Large new unit, possible of a similar size to the one in Manchester
H&M - Another store to accommodate menswear and other sections which are missing from the current one
Topshop/Topman - New larger store, possibly allowing Dorothy Perkins to expand and use both floors of the current Fargate unit (or visa-versa)
Republic
FCUK
Animal
Zara

Dunno what else. Any suggestions?

Hamleys - or other big toy shop ( never been the same since redgates went )
I'd personally welcome a few music shops like they have in the centre of Doncaster. Especially a large branch of Scratch Music with a drum room.
A large Apple shop would be good too, as the Iphone is likely to be a great device.
A branch of Tower Records?

[paulmat]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

You could do with a better Primark and Virgin Megastore!

All your suggestions are good though.

I think Primark are planning to stay in their current place. Would be nice if they refurbished it. They've got 5 or 6 storeys to play with, yet they only use a couple.

I'd also quite like an Esprit store, and a Borders would be good.

[atc367squadron]

There's also a Primark opening in Meadowhall and a new Virgin Megastore which has recently moved into a new location.

[paulmat]

It really does show how shocking our city centre retail offering is when we're speculating over getting a Borders, or decent sized topshop/next etc. stores.

And atc, I think what the city centre offers should be completely independent of Meadowhall (unfortunately it probably wont be that way), in the same way Manc city centre is from the Trafford centre. So companies shouldn't think 'oh, we've got a store in Meadowhall, we wont bother with one in the city centre'.

Oh yeah, I'd be great to get a Harvey Nichols and/or a Selfridges

[arepeejee]

Sheffield needs Borders, badly.

Also, we need more music shops Dreadful selection of Hoomve and Virgil Records now.

Bring back Fopp I say

[paulmat]

Has Fopp not been bought by HMV? So it's quite possible it'll return, although probably in a more expensive, less original re-incarnation.

[skyfitsboy]

I'd love to be able to go shopping in Sheffield and be able to pop into Selfridges or Abercrombie & Fitch.

[arepeejee]

Originally Posted by paulmat

Has Fopp not been bought by HMV? So it's quite possible it'll return, although probably in a more expensive, less original re-incarnation.

Yeah, it has, but they're only keeping London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Cambridge stores open

[paulmat]

That's rubbish. Not even the Glasgow store? This shows exactly what I mean about companies having no loyalty to their roots.

P.S. What's so special about the Cambridge store?

[flange]

No Fopp are keeping there Glasgow store open

Music and book retailer HMV has struck a deal to buy the Fopp brand and revive six of its stores. HMW has bought the shops - which will trade under the Fopp name - in Glasgow, Edinburgh, London's Covent Garden, Manchester, Nottingham and Cambridge.

[flange]

Borders is most likely not going alot of new stores as they are actually downsizing their stores it hasnt been a great year for them recently but if they do open it wouldprobably be a small sized one