October 20, 2010
A host of new fashion brands have joined St David’s, Cardiff in the run up to its first anniversary on the 22nd of October. Internationally renowned retailer Gap, as well as Officers Club, Bijou Brigette, La Senza and quirky tee-shirt and fashion apparel brand David & Goliath, will over the coming months open stores at the centre.
Gap will relocate from Queen Street to create a larger split-level 9,197 sq ft flagship store at St David’s, immediately adjacent to Apple, and close to Hollister and Guess on the Upper Level Grand Arcade.
Accessories retailer Bijou Brigette has taken as 1,221 sq ft store in Town Wall South to open its first store in Wales. Bijou Brigette Investor relations manager Annegret Wittmaack said: “Bijou Brigitte is glad to open its first store in the heart of the city at St David’s. It is a great way to introduce Bijou Brigitte as a company, and especially our large selection of fashion jewellery and accessories, to the Welsh market.”
La Senza’s new 3,547 sq ft store, near to New Look and Republic, will also be a flagship for the lingerie brand, and a relocation from Queens Arcade.
Officers Club, the men’s fashion retailer which targets the 16-30 year old market, is set to open a 2,615 sq ft store in the centre’s Town Wall South on 22nd October as part of a wider expansion plan for the business. Following on from its successful launch at Lakeside Shopping Centre in September, this is the latest of nine new store openings for Officers Club.
Duncan Christie, retail director at Officers Club, said: “We aim to be in all the most desirable and accessible locations across the country, and opening a store at St David’s is a key stepping stone on our way to achieving this.”
David & Goliath, the kitsch and quirky apparel and accessory brand operated by Siesta Clothing Ltd, has taken a 2,000 sq ft store for their Stupid Factory concept in the centre’s Lower Grand Arcade, the store will open on 28th October.
Currently trading from 16 locations worldwide, this will be its 5th UK store. Managing director Christian Stewart said: “Cardiff is a great city in which to open a David & Goliath store, and St David’s ticks all the right boxes. We’re sure we are going to be a great addition to the centre.”
Joanne Skilton, of Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), on behalf of St David’s Partnership, the joint venture between CSC and Land Securities, said: “We are delighted to see retailers investing in their stores and opening flagships, as in the case of La Senza and Gap, and the additional new brands are indicative of the strength of St David’s fashion offering.
“We have ensured store locations are in line with each brand, for example Town Wall South is the ideal location for Officers Club, close to other fashion retailers in a high footfall area, and David & Goliath is in keeping with the fun and funky retail mix in the Lower Arcade. The positioning of Gap also ties in with the retail mix strategy to cluster “US-style young fashion brands” in this location.”
E J Hales, Lunson Mitchenall and Cushman & Wakefield are the letting agents for St David’s. Gap and Officers Club were self represented; Stuart Donald Chartered Surveyors acted for David & Goliath; Cushman & Wakefield represented Bijou Brigette and MMX Retails aced for La Senza.
