New tenants boost booming Liverpool One
LIVERPOOL One has revealed a clutch of new retail tenants as it celebrates the first anniversary of it becoming fully operational.
Hot on the heels of Top Shop and Habitat are GIVe – the new concept launched by fashion retail legend George Davies, Whistles, Hollister, The Entertainer, Aveda and Reiss.
The £1bn city centre shopping and leisure destination has created 4,500 jobs in the last year and owner Grosvenor Estates says 23 million people have visited Liverpool One in the same timeframe.
Growth is continuing with like-for-like footfall numbers up 31% on last year.
Estates Director Chris Bliss told TheBusinessDesk he is “delighted” with the impact Liverpool One has made, particularly against the backdrop of the recession.
He said the centre had opened 127 stores in the last 12 months, and seen three closures.
“We opened on the brink of the recession and despite the retail climate surrounding us we have grown from strength to strength, opening outlets throughout the turbulent year.
“We have added economic strength and retail growth to a city that less than two years ago was ranked 15th on the Experian retail listings”
Mr Bliss said the opening of the Hilton Hotel on the development next month would create a further 500 full and part-time jobs in the city.
“I think we can be really proud of the impact Liverpool One has made in the city. Visitor numbers and sales throughout the entire city are well ahead of last year since the development opened.
“We have helped address years of under-investment in the city and have filled a gap for a strong retail and leisure offering in Liverpool.”
George Davies, the creator of Next, George at Asda and Marks & Spencer’s Per Una range, said of his move to the development: “Liverpool has had a difficult time, like everybody else, but there’s no doubt about it, Liverpool One has made Liverpool far more of a destination to shop.”
