Liverpool the focal point of Flannels expansion
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has announced plans for three department stores under its luxury goods brand, with the largest being the 120,000 sq ft former Owen Owen store on Liverpool’s Parker Street.
The Liverpool store, in the retail core and most recently part-occupied by Ashley’s Sports Direct and Tesco, comprises seven floors. The development of it will include a fitness studio, rooftop restaurant and beauty hall. It will be designed by fashion sector specialist Argent Design.
At a time when the remaining department store groups are struggling, with Debenhams in administration and John Lewis closing locations, Ashley’s move marks his business as an outlier.
Frasers Group said that the shops would be “next-generation” stores, describing them as “modern, agile retail spaces”. Two other large stores will be opened, in Sheffield and Leicester, of around 30,000 sq ft each.
The group’s head of elevation Michael Murray said Liverpool is a “symbiotic home” for Flannels, describing the city as a “powerhouse of culture and style”.
He added that the city “has an unmatched appetite for the type of luxury we do best – we’re incredibly excited to deliver a world-class experience to the city”.
Flannels is aiming for an opening in autumn 2021.
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Be great to see this classic department store back in full use again, they seem to have spent a lot of money restoring the features.
It`s in a good spot too as crowds emerge from Lime St station , it will cater for a younger clientelle, and hopefully Frasers will re-brand the Debenham`s store in Liverpool One,as it gets good custom and caters for a maturer group.
By Anonymous
Great to see this major investment in Liverpool city centre especially at this difficult time for both city centres and retail….good location between lines Street and central rail stations
By George
I hope they can pull this off, masterstroke if so, I fear the demographics of this part of the city centre, and the other type of retail that surround the building, don’t lend themselves to their target audience.
By The Childwall Kid
Nail it down before they get persuaded to move to another city.
By Michael McSpeke
Oh dear. Childwall Kid. Always the pessimist. Despite all the odds. This is forward thinking.
By Anonymous
Worth looking at the multi-brand concept about to open in Birmingham, which I presume will be replicated here. Positive to see investment into the high street and this could act as a catalyst for this end of the city centre
By Ash
A beautiful old building, Owen Owen’s was a Liverpool institution, and the restoration looks fantastic. Lime Street will look very different from next year and will be world class. This building is on the primary route to Church Street.
By Roscoe