AM Alpha in talks over first letting at revamped Manchester Debenhams
Negotiations with a food hall operator for up to 15,000 sq ft on the ground floor of the Rylands Building on Market Street are ongoing.
Jeffrey Bell Architects has made a series of design tweaks to the Manchester project, which will see DOMIS redevelop AM Alpha’s former Debenhams department store into 300,000 sq ft of offices.
The most notable change is a rethink of the ground floor, part of which is earmarked for a shopping arcade, and will now also feature a food hall.
Some of the space tipped for shops will be “absorbed into the market hall tenancy”, according to a planning statement prepared by Deloitte.
“The ground floor amendment responds to demand from a food hall operator for the space and accounts for their operational requirements,” the planning statement says.
The occupier AM Alpha is in talks with is unnamed.
A spokesperson at AM Alpha declined to name the party it was in talks with and said no agreements had been signed.
“The ground floor within Rylands is a fantastic area and conversations about its usage are ongoing,” the spokesperson said.
“No commercial decisions have been made yet, but we are confident the space offers a prime opportunity for leisure and hospitality businesses looking to be in the heart of Manchester.”
The Rylands food hall will become the latest in a growing cohort of similar venues in the city; Mackie Mayor, Society, Arndale Market, and New Century are all a short distance away.
Just 285,000 sqft to go then!!
By Anonymous
I worry this food hall fad is causing oversaturation that’s causing a bubble. Just in Wigan town centre we have five approved food halls (Pier, Eckersley Mill, Grand Arcades former Debenhams, the Market, King Street (former Liquid)) and there are similar ones in the suburbs not very far away such as at Haigh Hall. There surely cant be the demand to keep them all going.
By Watcherzero
Another food market, next to the Gardens food market, next to Arndale food market, and around many chains and other independents. Seems unwise
By Anonymous
Agree with Watcherzero. There are so many of these areas now. Will they all be there in 5-10 years time? Better to use it for something than for nothing, but ultimately need long term solution here. It is the kind of building that should be a department store.
By Anonymous