May 24, 2011
Toy retailer Hawkin’s Bazaar and health and beauty retailer eCosway are to open stores in St David’s in Cardiff.
Hawkin’s Bazaar, which specialises in nostalgia toys and prides itself on offering “things you thought had gone forever and things you never even knew existed”, will open a 1,898 sq ft store at 7 St David’s Way adjacent to a new flagship store for Barclays Bank at the end of this month.
Meanwhile health and beauty retailer eCosway has opened a 1,419 sq ft unit in 11 Cathedral Walk, adjacent to Claire’s Accessories. The company, which has more than 1,700 stores across the world, is backed by the Malaysian Berjaya Group which also holds a majority shareholding in Cardiff City Football club. eCosway plans up to 200 stores in the UK in the next two to three years and 100 this year alone. eCosway opened its first UK stores last month in Birmingham and London.
Joanne Skilton, retail and leasing director of Capital Shopping Centres (CSC) London on behalf of St David’s Partnership, the joint venture between CSC and Land Securities said: “Hawkin’s Bazaar is a retailer that brings back many a childhood memory for our customers whilst also widening our toy and gifts offer for the St David’s shopper. eCosway meanwhile is an exciting and fast expanding business and we are delighted they have chosen St David’s for their first store in Wales. It’s great news that 18 months after unveiling the extension of St David’s, we are still introducing new and exciting retailers to Cardiff.”
Lyle Finlay, managing director of Hawkin’s Bazaar, said: “St David’s is a great location with high footfall and was an opportunity to be in a mall with a strong tenant mix that suits our business well and will provide us with great exposure.”
Richard Chamberlain, UK stores coordinator for eCosway said: “We have huge expansion plans for the UK but with our association with Cardiff City Football Club it was always going to be important for us to have a high profile location for our first Welsh store. St David’s provides us with the showcase location that we need.”
E J Hales, Lunson Mitchenall and Cushman & Wakefield are the letting agents for St David’s. Hawkin’s Bazaar was represented by Williams Gunter Hardwick while eCosway represented itself.
