St. Davids Shopping Centre

Unlike Thomas Sabo, which seems to have huge appeal to a certain type of woman: those who like tacky and twee 'charms' (and probably believe in nonsence like horoscopes and homeopathy).

That and the other two charm bracelet stores. Pandora seem to be opening up in quite a few places these days as well, it's always really busy. It isn't just in the UK either, the same sort of stores were equally busy in Dubai when I was there a few weeks ago...they love their shinny blingy crap there as well

Ha, Jonny just saw the square footages above. I thought I was a geek when it came to this stuff! I don't think they do two-storey stores though, so would it only be 9,000 square feet if they just take the one level? (making Cardiff the joint-smallest). Either way, do you have an ETA on Victoria's Secret?

I think we'll have a long wait for Victoria Secret! The Bristol store was officially announced in July and it isn't opening until January 2016. Same sort of story in terms on heir Reading and Southampton stores... 6/7 month fit out after official announcement, so there is a fairly long wait ahead!

In response to the Cardiff store size, their stores tend to be one level when VS Pink can sit beside Victoria Secret. However when there isn't room from VS & VS Pink to be all on one level, they usually put pink above or below (with a feature staircase) which would mean VS Pink would probably be located upstairs... There is definitely no room for Victoria Secret and VS Pink to sit side by side in the H&M unit, which is why I think they'll make the most of the upper level.

Alba Rose didn't last long... only opened in February or March. I wonder if they were able to find someone to assign their lease to, or whether they set up a separate company for their Cardiff store, so they could renege on their lease, while keeping their other stores open. Either way be interesting to see who takes the unit.

I always thought those Hayes Arcade units would be quite in demand, so I don't think they'll struggle to find a replacement! What I do know is that Alba Rose also closed their Westfield White City store on the weekend, so I think this is a company wide thing?

& in other news:

- the hoardings are up around Michael Kors
- Frankie & Benny's is now open
- EAT. is now open

All the new retailers are opening up now. St David's feels a lot more full! I'm certain that some of these units have never been filled before, like the EAT. one.

EAT. has been formed from half of the Vero Moda shop floor and what I assume was their stock room. Most of it was just a blank wall before so the EAT. unit looks much better with the frontage facing the Eastside arcade.

Swarovski is now open and Shake Shack upstairs looks like it's days away. Checked out the new H&M too and it is massive. No branding on the Michael Kors hoardings yet and if Victoria's Secret are taking the 1st & 2nd floors of the old H&M there's no sign of this, just the generic empty unit fake store images on the windows.

Lots of banging & crashing inside the old H&M unit on Friday last. Not sure how true it is but I heard Laura Ashley were looking for a return to the city centre?

As an aside, was talking to a couple from Reading yesterday whilst having a coffee in Pret. They couldn't believe how vibrant Cardiff was, in particular how much more impressive SD is compared to The Oracle centre in Reading. I haven't been to Reading for a few years so not sure if they were being polite!

I have always found SD quite impressive since opening, the recent Newport development re-highlighted this to me. Its a nice development in that it gave us a new street on the Hayes with some great new public spaces around it and rejuvenated ones, and a great mall that connects well into the existing center for weather like we've had the past 2 months.

Lots of banging & crashing inside the old H&M unit on Friday last. Not sure how true it is but I heard Laura Ashley were looking for a return to the city centre?

As an aside, was talking to a couple from Reading yesterday whilst having a coffee in Pret. They couldn't believe how vibrant Cardiff was, in particular how much more impressive SD is compared to The Oracle centre in Reading. I haven't been to Reading for a few years so not sure if they were being polite!

I wasn't particularly impressed by The Oracle when I went there. Reading is a nice enough place but it doesn't have half of what Cardiff has. Pretty much everyone I know that comes to Cardiff says that St David's is one of the best shopping centres they've been to, so I think we may take it for granted a bit!

Lots of banging & crashing inside the old H&M unit on Friday last. Not sure how true it is but I heard Laura Ashley were looking for a return to the city centre?

It was the manager of H&M who told me about VS occupying that unit and she was very sure! I know nothing is official until the brand announces it themselves, but it's not an unrealistic heads up... On the note of Laura Ashley, I cant imagine them occupying a unit of that size? Maybe one of the non MSU Upper Ground units though?

In other news, Shake Shack looks great from what can be seen right now. We have an opening date - 22.12.15!

I think this is something quite exciting for the centre...