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Just took some pics tonight of the new Eldon Square - quality isn't great as they were only on my phone! It does all look good at night though - arguably better than in the daylight 
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Newcastle and the North East RETAIL - City Centre, MetroCentre, Suburban Shopping, Out of Town Retail Parks, etc
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Just got back from Eldon Square, the interior of St Andrews Way is amazing. Its wide but not too much, although as we've know for ages it just alot of relocations. However, the Guess store is not just handbags (so thats a real coup), the Apple store looks like every Apple store but they all look great, the Topshop/Topman store is great and follows the layout etc of their New York store that opened last year although there doesnt seem to be much that different compared to others that ive seen especially the Oxford Street one.
One thing though, whats the unit inbetween Republic and Paperchase, its looks like a chinese restaurant (its not Laus though, as theres are in different places) but it looks like a small asian building, really cool and doesnt look tacky and i'm sure it may sound.
What are other peoples opinion on it, as i'm sure others will have been by the end of today.
One thing though, whats the unit inbetween Republic and Paperchase, its looks like a chinese restaurant (its not Laus though, as theres are in different places) but it looks like a small asian building, really cool and doesnt look tacky and i'm sure it may sound.
What are other peoples opinion on it, as i'm sure others will have been by the end of today.
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Well I've just came back, after spending about an hour in a que leading from the entrance of the new mall all the way up to USC where I was, it then continued all the down to Monsoon, after waiting in that que you were then escorted to another que infront of the Apple store. I managed to get my headphones, and a free T-shirt, I have to say though the Apple staff were going way over the top with their celebration everytime a customer came through. Damn Apple fans who arn't from Newcastle aswell making the que even longer.
Anyway the other stores seemed decent with friendly staff, even getting a free bottle of water from Burtons, most of the shops are something which I'll go back to, nice to see Guess selling jeans etc aswell. Superdry looks decent but itsn't something I'd go back to, probs the only shop there apart from Poundland which I won't visit again, though I didn't even bother visiting Poundland in the first place. The mall itself looks great, and Hollister have gone for a nice villa look to their store which is yet to open which gives the store a good look to with a little bit of difference. The mall itself is light and airy with plenty of room, though not much for the first couple of hours today.
I don't know who said it but the Triple S store has closed down to make way for the new Superdry store as someone suggested because that store and the one in MC is owned by the same people, also in that store I got a fairly strong smell of fresh paint.
Debenhams is ok, not somewhere I'd visit alot though.
Outside you can argue that it's not the best looking building, but inside it supasses any mall I have been into here in the UK or even aborad.
Anyway the other stores seemed decent with friendly staff, even getting a free bottle of water from Burtons, most of the shops are something which I'll go back to, nice to see Guess selling jeans etc aswell. Superdry looks decent but itsn't something I'd go back to, probs the only shop there apart from Poundland which I won't visit again, though I didn't even bother visiting Poundland in the first place. The mall itself looks great, and Hollister have gone for a nice villa look to their store which is yet to open which gives the store a good look to with a little bit of difference. The mall itself is light and airy with plenty of room, though not much for the first couple of hours today.
I don't know who said it but the Triple S store has closed down to make way for the new Superdry store as someone suggested because that store and the one in MC is owned by the same people, also in that store I got a fairly strong smell of fresh paint.
Debenhams is ok, not somewhere I'd visit alot though.
Outside you can argue that it's not the best looking building, but inside it supasses any mall I have been into here in the UK or even aborad.
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I agree with you, and that unit will be Hollister, it has the signs painted low down on it and is yet to be complete, looks great though. Topman is good because I feel it has now gone away from it's cheap tacky looking clothes that it has for about the last 2 years, and back to when it really was the place to shop without spending loads of money, the store itself looks great but I just feel like the stuff it now sells is soo much better. A guy I was stood next to in the Apple que said his friend is the manager of the Topshop store and they are expecting to take in £2.5m this week, but he seemed to be one of these big panzies who only came for the opening of the store and was trying to say he was in the know about the new ES even though I corrected him on 90% of what he said.
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Yeah, i thought it was Hollister but it does have the look of an asian restaurant lol. I agree about the quality of the mall, one of the best new malls in the country and i've been to a couple of them and some in Europe. Also it doesnt jar with the existing mall as much as you'd think and they've already put up boards covering the old Arcadia 'crescent', hope Next relocate here.
I also had a walk around the new part and the only part that i actually hate is the section inbetween Cafe Nero and the Debenhams entrance. The windows have tried to emulate the Nero building, but fail miserably. But as the old Argos section wasn't that old when it was redeveloped maybe they'll change the windows within the next few years.
Also, whilst looking at it, i was trying to gauge why the planners approved the windows and i believe that when they looked at the plans and from early renders, it probably didnt appear that they'd appear so fake. Bet you they're pissed off with the end result.
I also had a walk around the new part and the only part that i actually hate is the section inbetween Cafe Nero and the Debenhams entrance. The windows have tried to emulate the Nero building, but fail miserably. But as the old Argos section wasn't that old when it was redeveloped maybe they'll change the windows within the next few years.
Also, whilst looking at it, i was trying to gauge why the planners approved the windows and i believe that when they looked at the plans and from early renders, it probably didnt appear that they'd appear so fake. Bet you they're pissed off with the end result.
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Excited shoppers witness the opening of St Andrew's Way in Eldon Square
Feb 16 2010 by Amy Hunt, Evening Chronicle
SHOPPERS this morning scrambled to be the first through the doors of Newcastle's brand new shopping mall. St Andrew’s Way in Eldon Square was due to open to the public for the first time today. The mall, featuring a four-storey Debenhams and a branch of the Apple store, was the final part of a £170m, five-year redevelopment of Newcastle’s main shopping centre. About 10,000 shoppers were expected at the opening of the mall, which sees Eldon Square hoping to cement its status as one of the country’s largest city-centre shopping centres. When it first opened in 1976, Eldon Square was the biggest indoor shopping mall in Britain, though it was later overtaken by centres like Gateshead’s Metrocentre and Meadowhall in Sheffield. Following the redevelopment, Eldon Square will rival the Arndale Centre in Manchester and Liverpool ONE on Merseyside for size.
Feb 16 2010 by Amy Hunt, Evening Chronicle
SHOPPERS this morning scrambled to be the first through the doors of Newcastle's brand new shopping mall. St Andrew’s Way in Eldon Square was due to open to the public for the first time today. The mall, featuring a four-storey Debenhams and a branch of the Apple store, was the final part of a £170m, five-year redevelopment of Newcastle’s main shopping centre. About 10,000 shoppers were expected at the opening of the mall, which sees Eldon Square hoping to cement its status as one of the country’s largest city-centre shopping centres. When it first opened in 1976, Eldon Square was the biggest indoor shopping mall in Britain, though it was later overtaken by centres like Gateshead’s Metrocentre and Meadowhall in Sheffield. Following the redevelopment, Eldon Square will rival the Arndale Centre in Manchester and Liverpool ONE on Merseyside for size.
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I agree with you that it doesn't fit with the rest of ES, but ES is going to be renovated as much as possible to make that happen as things seem, already you can see the new ceiling and signs next to where Topman used to be which is the same as the rest of ES. I also agree with you that the planers didn't think the fake windows would look so bad, or atleast that the way I like to think, maybe it's more down to what materials the construction firm opted for, but it's right for signs for the shops indoor and maybe a little advertsing, the rest looks fairly decent and their is real sandstone being used within it, hopefully the concrete stuff will age to look like real sandstone. Newgate St seems fairly wide to be honest, their is a little section where it gets to one lane but that is so that cars etc will have to slow down where the crossing is located.
Did you manage to get any pictures NH?
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Yes you can,it's not busy round there anymore, infact when I left the only real extreamly busy part was the Apple store.
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This is the video from the guy who was first inline to the Apple store who I don't believe is from the NE, bloody Apple fans hogging everyone elses opening.
The viedo also give brief glimpses of the new shopping mall.
The viedo also give brief glimpses of the new shopping mall.
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Today's top searches for my blog. Anyone spot a trend here?
hollister newcastle 34
st andrews way newcastle 10
hollister eldon square 9
st andrews way eldon square 7
eldon square st andrews way 5
debenhams newcastle opening 5
apple store newcastle 5
new tesco clayton street 4
eldon square south 16th febreuary 3
eldon square 2010 february map 3
Will hopefully grab a quick look at the new mall after work today!
hollister newcastle 34
st andrews way newcastle 10
hollister eldon square 9
st andrews way eldon square 7
eldon square st andrews way 5
debenhams newcastle opening 5
apple store newcastle 5
new tesco clayton street 4
eldon square south 16th febreuary 3
eldon square 2010 february map 3
Will hopefully grab a quick look at the new mall after work today!
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Yes, I was a bit late, and so it was really packed by the time I got there, and it still was packed when I left at about 1.30!!
An excellent party/carnival atmosphere though, all the time while we were there, I have to say!
I was mostly concentrating, of course, on the opening of the DEBENHAMS DEPARTMENT STORE, and the photos of that are already uploaded onto the Department Stores Thread . . .
HERE - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=51861005&postcount=221
As far as I was able though, I did take some photos of the rest of St Andrew's Way, though because of "the separate queue" I couldn't get into the Apple Store. Plenty of time for that.
Here are the photos, such as they are, starting with the "smashed open" entrance from the 'old mall' area . . .
I'm sure others will have taken more, and better, than these ones!!
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Good pictures, so what are your thoughts on seeing it open now?
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I visited the new mall about lunch time and I was very impressed. It was nice to walk down Newgate Street with a feel of being a real street again and not a construction site. It felt very busy and lively and should improve more with further units opening. I also think it's great how they have tree-lined the street and as thought the road goes to a single lane for a short distance outside of Debenhams.
Of course its a shame about having them fake windows but to be honest I didn't notice them too much and it didn't seem as bad as I thought it would have. I think even having adverts in the ones at street level would be fine and give a bit of interest; as the ones on the upper levels aren't as prominent. Clayton Street also looks much better and again should be even better once completed by filling the remaining units.
As for the inside of the mall... It's probably one of the best malls I've been to. The width and height are just about perfect and the stores look fantastic, especially Topshop/Topman and Hollister. April will be when Hollister opens incase anyone is wondering. The stores themselves seem large, much better than previous locations.
I noticed the area where Topshop, Burton, etc. used to be is boarded up and it says about a 'flagship store' coming soon. Hopefully this will be Next as previously discussed. I also noticed the former Republic unit is going to become Foot Locker.
Overall I think it is an excellent new mall and hopefully the whole centre will be brought up to its standards, beginning next month as stated.
Some photos to follow...
Of course its a shame about having them fake windows but to be honest I didn't notice them too much and it didn't seem as bad as I thought it would have. I think even having adverts in the ones at street level would be fine and give a bit of interest; as the ones on the upper levels aren't as prominent. Clayton Street also looks much better and again should be even better once completed by filling the remaining units.
As for the inside of the mall... It's probably one of the best malls I've been to. The width and height are just about perfect and the stores look fantastic, especially Topshop/Topman and Hollister. April will be when Hollister opens incase anyone is wondering. The stores themselves seem large, much better than previous locations.
I noticed the area where Topshop, Burton, etc. used to be is boarded up and it says about a 'flagship store' coming soon. Hopefully this will be Next as previously discussed. I also noticed the former Republic unit is going to become Foot Locker.
Overall I think it is an excellent new mall and hopefully the whole centre will be brought up to its standards, beginning next month as stated.
Some photos to follow...
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To get a proper impression of the place, I will need to see it seamlessly joined on to the rest of Eldon Square, and on a 'normal' (non-carnival) day, and (ideally) after Hollister is open.
It was very noticeable that there were a LOT of closed units around many other parts of Eldon Square. This contrasted very starkly with the "bright, successful, carnival" going on in St Andrew's Way!
I am confident that situation will not last long, but in all the previous 34 years since it opened, Eldon Square has NEVER had so many boarded up units as it has now, so it was a bit upsetting to see.
I also need to have a look around more of the 'outside' of the place (Clayton Street and Newgate Street) to get the full picture, but I won't get chance for a while because of other things going on at the moment.
Basically though, I liked what I saw, and when it is 'fully integrated' and some of the empty ES units are re-opened, I think it will be a very good little addition to ES . . and to the City Centre.
The arrival of a third big Department Store into Eldon Square (never mind into the City Centre itself) with the arrival of Debenhams, is great though. Not many "shopping centres" in themselves (eg, MetroCentre) ever have more than two Department Stores in them.
So, those are my thoughts, as at opening day!
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Nice info about Hollister and Footlocker there. It's good that Footlocker arn't moving into the Jack&Jones unit as someone suggested on here, but it's a shame to see them move away from Northumberland street, hopefully that will feel a positive effect of ES South with new reatailer coming to the city.
So far I think the most understated store in the new ES is Guess, it's just fantastic that they are opening up here and not just selling handbags or last years stuff, unfortunatly it seems most of their stuff along with All Saitns is at the moment out of my price range, but as soon as I get a job etc then I will be visiting these shops more, also one more thing is the one downside to Topman is that their is no escalator coming back up, you either have to get a lift up or use the stairs which takes you to the back of Topshop, other then that it's been done out nicely.
So far I think the most understated store in the new ES is Guess, it's just fantastic that they are opening up here and not just selling handbags or last years stuff, unfortunatly it seems most of their stuff along with All Saitns is at the moment out of my price range, but as soon as I get a job etc then I will be visiting these shops more, also one more thing is the one downside to Topman is that their is no escalator coming back up, you either have to get a lift up or use the stairs which takes you to the back of Topshop, other then that it's been done out nicely.
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It's the same in 'New Look', you can get an escalator DOWN, but you cannot get one back UP!
Bizarre!
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