Simon_SW17 wrote:The whole row had been marketed for some time now, I assume River Island are closing on Queen St as are Zara. Top Shop are reducing their estate at the moment so they must be quitting at the end of their lease.
The Top Shop unit is much bigger than the others so could be the biggest challenge to re-let.
https://search.savills.com/property-detail/gb30270000104519
Gosh. When those go, that will really knock the stuffing out of Queen Street. It will mean Next and, what, Matalan, are the only two main clothing stores you need access from the street? (Primark and M&S can both be accessed via St Davids).
I can't imagine Top Shop/Man are quitting the city. Maybe they will downsize into one of the other units or also make the move to St Davids as well?
Anyway, its a shame. I've come to not really like St Davids as a shopping experience. I find the old centre quite low and claustrophobic - and really busy whenever I go in, which adds to that feeling. And the new part, I find sort of bland and sterile. Queen Street there is usually more to look at, and as I say, the design of the 3 stores closing (Top Shop and River Island in particular) is just more interesting and open than the St Davids ones. Although that and greater energy efficiency probably means the St Davids units are more cost effective.