Zara Upsizes and New Brands Debut at Bullring & Grand Central: A New Era for Birmingham City Centre Shopping

This text does not contain any content to rewrite.

Hammerson is happy to inform that Zara, an international fashion label under Inditex, will considerably expand its presence at Bullring & Grand Central. This is a part of the effective restructuring of the central Birmingham property and the conversion of an old department store space.

This year, Zara will be accompanied by Swiss watch manufacturers, Swatch, worldwide shoe company, Clarks, Mexican-style food chain Zambero, and the unique retail brand Pop Street.

Zara is set to expand its visibility in Birmingham by occupying the top floor of the former Debenhams location above M&S and the much-anticipated TOCA Social, as well as a two-story unit on Bullring's upper level. This expansion will provide Zara with an additional 51,000 square feet of retail space. The new stores will display Zara’s entire collection, including women's, men's, and children's clothing. In addition to this, an 'Automated Collection Point' along with self-service and designated refund tills will be featured to ensure an streamlined shopping experience for customers. This expansion comes after the inauguration of Inditex brands Bershka and Pull&Bear at Bullring the previous year, which marked their first presence in the region.

Swatch, the innovative and trendy Swiss watch brand, is set to open its first independent store in the city. Positioned on Bullring's Link Street, the 800 sq ft outlet plans to feature more than 500 distinct timepieces, highlighting a blend of both traditional and modern designs across a variety of collection series.

The global shoe brand, Clarks, is moving its location inside the Bullring to launch its 'modern workshop' idea. They will take up a new 4500 sq. ft. space situated on the Bullring's basement level. The fresh shop will represent the brand's signature artisanship and pioneering innovation, and will organize various events and initiatives.

Moreover, the standalone Mexican fast food chain, Zambrero, is expanding its influence in the city by opening a new outlet of 580 square feet on the middle floor of Bullring. Similarly, Pop Street, an independent retail store, is inaugurating a large 3,900 square foot space on Bullring's ground floor.

Toby Tait, Hammerson's Director of Asset Management, made a remark about the company's strategic renovation of Bullring & Grand Central. This strategy involved introducing key brands, innovative ideas, and events to this location. Consequently, it boosted visitor numbers and sales for the businesses operating there, yearly. It also enabled us to keep attracting top-tier brand partnerships. The demonstrated interest of Zara in reinvesting, coupled with the rollout of fresh concept stores from brands like Swatch and Clarks, serves as testament to Bullring's attractiveness and affirms the effectiveness of our strategic direction.

In conjunction with the excellent retail and entertainment options, the emphasis on creating unique spaces has significantly altered how Hammerson's properties are viewed, transforming them from simple shopping locations to 'destinations' that provide entertainment, leisure, social and lifestyle activities.

Key features included the innovative Late Night Out, which turned Bullring into an evening hotspot with live shows, celebrity appearances, and bars. The new Club Paradiso, inspired by Ibiza, was a hit as a summertime pop-up bar. The popular B Side Hip Hop Festival and Birmingham Weekender also made their return.

Concludes