Bricks-and-mortar is slowly recovering post-pandemic as shoppers return to the high street.
And retailers are giving them a reason to put down their phone and shop in the physical world with a raft of new store openings that provide experiences as well as an opportunity to buy.
Earlier this month Lego reopened its store in London’s Leicester Square after four months of extensive refurbishment, creating the “biggest Lego store in the world”.
On the opening day, huge queues formed outside the toy giant’s store with shoppers eager to experience its interactive features, which include a personalisation studio and storytelling zone.
But Lego is not alone. Retail Gazette rounds up some of the most exciting new stores opening to look forward to.
Gymshark, Regent Street
Gymshark will be opening its first bricks-and-mortar store on London’s Regent Street any week now, with the retailer currently hiring for in-store staff.
The store is one of the most-anticipated in retail, and Gymshark founder Ben Francis has set expectations high.
“It’s going to be incredible, it’s going to be experiential, and we want to bring as much of that Gymshark vibe and community in to this place,” he said last month.
The former 18,000 sq ft Regent Street store will be about more than retail. It’s a space where Francis aims to bring its community closer together than ever before.
The flagship will sell Gymshark products, but Francis has stressed that the “vast majority” of the store would be used for experiences such as workout spaces and special events.
Gymshark has only trialled a number of physical pop-up stores around the world, most recently its Deload barber shop in London.
JD Sports, Trafford Centre
JD Sports revealed this month that it will open it’s biggest store to date at Manchester’s Trafford Centre.
The 42,412 sq foot flagship will be a relocation within the centre for the retailer and will fill the lower level of the former Topshop store.
No opening date has been set but JD head of group acquisitions James Air promises a “unique flagship”.
“This will be the largest JD store ever from over 3,400 stores globally. The new store will feature a bespoke take on our latest cutting edge concept and will bring more of the very best brands to our loyal customer base in the North West,” he said.
Flannels & Sports Direct, Metrocentre
Shoppers at Gateshead’s Metrocentre have two new flagships to look forward to as Frasers Group plans landmark Flannels and Sports Direct stores in the centre.
The Metrocentre has agreed a 15-year lease on the 130,000 sq ft store with the retail group, which is set to open a 70,000 sq ft Flannels on the ground floor and a 60,000 sq ft Sports Direct on the first floor.
The site was formerly a Debenhams, but is currently occupied by Next Home & Beauty.
Both stores will open next year and are expected to reflect Frasers Group’s more upmarket offer.
New group CEO Michael Murray has spearheaded the businesses’ elevation strategy, which aims to create shopping environments that are fit-for-purpose in not just today’s retail market but for years to come.
Gap
Next is planning to open five new Gap shop-in-shops in its flagship stores, including one in Lakeside in August, another in Birmingham mid-September, and a third in Manchester towards the end of 2022.
Next signed a joint venture to manage Gap’s UK and Ireland operations in September last year, before launching its first Gap branded shop-in-shop at its Oxford Street flagship in March.
The concession marked the US brand’s return to the UK high street after closing all its stores here last year.
66ºNorth
Icelandic outerwear retailer 66ºNorth will open its first UK flagship on Regent Street in London in mid-September, marking its first store outside Iceland and Denmark.
The 3,500-square-foot flagship will not only showcase 66°North’s products but give shoppers who visit an insight into the history and heritage of the Icelandic brand that started making clothing for Icelandic seamen before evolving into a much-desired outerwear brand.
66ºNorth chief executive Helgi Oskarsson said: ”We are thrilled about the opening of our new London flagship. London is an amazing city: beyond its culture and heritage, it’s home to some of the best and most influential fashion retail in the world.
“We opened our first store outside of Iceland seven years ago in Copenhagen. Ever since then, we’ve been waiting for the right moment to open a London store. Now, we are ready.”
Ikea, Oxford Street
One of the most anticipated store openings of next year is the opening of Ikea’s new store on Oxford Street.
The hoardings recently went up for the flagship, housed in the former Topshop store at Oxford Circus.
Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ikea’s owner Ingka Group, paid a whopping £378 million deal for the site that will bring bookshelves, mirrors and meatballs to London’s famous shopping street.
The 239,000 sq ft store will house around 5,000 Ikea products, with the option of taking home soft furnishing or ordering larger furniture items for home delivery.
There will also be a restaurant on site where shoppers can get their meatball fix.
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