St. Davids Shopping Centre

I contacted St David's via Facebook message asking them about Armani Exchange and they confirmed that A|X have permanently closed. They blamed the closure on a nationwide cutback of stores...

I also asked them about the old H&M unit and they confirmed that a new tenant has been found and is currently in the process of fitting out the store, however they were unable to reveal the name. I guess this supports the claim that VS are opening there?

It's going to be a Michael Kors - at least on the ground floor. See my post from the other week.

Yup, and that is confirmed. I think what Jonny is talking about though is the upper floors. Be good to see it filled. Be good to see the upper arcade looking busier more generally. Because while most of the units taken, the empty ones are rather large and prominent: Armani Exchange, DV8/Republic, Gilly Hicks and the other forever empty one.. next to John Lewis.

Oh I knew about the ground floor... I announced Michael Kors back in October after discovering some updated letting plans. Yeah I meant the upper floors! The manager of H&M informed me that keys were given to Victoria Secret back in November but nothing official supports this rumour 'yet'.

Walked past the Grand Arcade facade of the old H&M this morning and could hear a lot of movement and work taking place which is a positive sign! Plus, you can see the unit being completely stripped from the first floor of Urban Outfitters.

I've always imagined Foyle's in the MSU next to John Lewis! I think that would be a decent letting... Especially for that area of the centre?

- SoHo Coffee Co. will be opening next to Footasylum in late February

- L'Occitane are currently closed for refurbishment and reopening in March

Snooping around on the internet, I found these pre-opening letting plans! Quite an interesting read if you ask me! Certainly interesting to see who was initially interested in units and who didn't commit... They're dated June 2009! These plans excite me more than what is actually in the centre right now

http://www.hynesillingworth.com/ah/St%2 ... 25%20(FCFP).pdf

The old forum had a whole list of these letting plans - we had them going right back to May 2009 I think. Edit: Yes, we did, and that had some interesting stores in it that never showed up:

Lacoste
Azendi
Ugg
Musto
Choice
J4 Jeans
7 Camicie
Adidas

Also, when it first opened the centre had a number of single-brand stores that subsequently left quite quickly. All focused on menswear actually. Lambretta, Fenchurch, Henleys. Not classy, but the kind of brand you got around Carnaby Street say. Its actually become a bit more generic since, at least on the inside. On the other hand sales and footfall have grown consistently, and rents are now on the up at review time. Still down from prime Queen St back in 2008 though.

Azendi opened on The Hayes for a year or so, where Fred Perry is now.

Azendi opened on The Hayes for a year or so, where Fred Perry is now.

Azendi has closed all its non-Yorkshire branches.

I came across a job advert for Zizzi St. David's earlier so I assume it'll be taking over Signor Valentino's or it'll be in the old Armani store.

Good find Simon! Not particularly exciting mind...

Has Signor Valentino closed then?

Not that I know of but have never seen it busy, just a guess really.

Not that exciting when we already have two Zizzi's agreed.