Shoe retailer gets a foot in the door at the Mander Centre
LEADING fashion streetwear and sportswear business, Footasylum, has become the latest retailer to open at Wolverhampton’s Mander Centre.
The recruitment of the Footasylum is part of centre owner Benson Elliot’s major plans to enhance the shopping mall’s retail offer.
Footasylum, which stocks leading sportswear brands Nike and Adidas, together with contemporary names like Vans, Converse and Puma, as well as a host of up and coming new brands such as Good for Nothing and Sik Silk, is set to open in June – ahead of the start later this year of Benson Elliot’s £25m refurbishment of the centre.
Peter Cornforth, Director of Retail at Benson Elliot, said: “This agreement with Footasylum marks a great first step in our vision for a quality, contemporary retail offer at the Mander Centre. As a cutting edge purveyor of the hottest new fashion trends, it’ll bring a fresh and exciting portfolio of brands to the centre, giving shoppers the chance to buy classic and urban style footwear and clothing which is distinctive in design.
“By committing to Wolverhampton ahead of the refurbishment, it signals a huge vote of confidence in both the city and our long-term plans for the Mander.”
Glen Dickinson, Head of Retail at Footasylum, said: “This will be our 35th store nationwide and the ninth in the Midlands region.
“We’re looking forward to moving to the Mander Centre at an exciting time (for the brand) ahead of a wave of new Footasylum store openings in the UK.”
The new 3,675 sq ft unit will be located in Central Arcade, adjacent to Deichmann and JD Sports. Its opening will create around 25 new jobs.
Benson Elliot is set to embark on an extensive upgrade of the existing 500,000 sq ft of retail space. This will provide modern stores and should attract a range of new retailers to the city. It should also create around 200 new jobs.
Construction work will commence in early 2016 and will be completed by the autumn of 2017. The redevelopment will be anchored by a 90,000 sq ft Debenhams store, which will trade over three floors.
