Express food quarter set to revive The Core
A NEW express food quarter being launched in The Core shopping centre is set to dramatically increase the number of visitors.
Leeds-based retail property consultants Barker Proudlove is the agent behind the revival of the Leeds city centre building.
Jonathan Newns, a director at the firm, said with the new concept, there is the potential to have more than 160,000 people each week walking through the centre.
He said: “The retailers on the outside of The Core already perform well, so our job was to think, how do we get people into the middle of the centre? The leisure market is fairly strong at the moment but footfall in The Core is very, very minor at present.
“There are around 190,000 people a week coming down The Headrow and around 160,000 by the time they get to Lands Lane, so there is definitely potential.
“We thought out of the box with this project. The retail sector is tough at the moment and what Leeds is lacking, is an express food concept.
“Many people have been negative about The Core, so it is great to have some success with this.”
Burger King has already signed to be part of the project and Mr Newns said Barker Proudlove is completing legal documents with a number of other food companies.
He said: “Burger King is the catalyst and a as a brand, it is a massive pull for others to join.”
The Core has 200,000 sq ft of space over four floors. On the second floor, with 15,000 sq ft of space, buffet chain Tops is set to open a new restaurant.
Work is planned to start on the £38m centre – which fronts both Lands Lane and The Headrow – in September/October, with plans to open in the second quarter of 2014.
The centre, recently acquired by asset manager Threadneedle, was redeveloped about six years ago, but only on the outside. The inside of the centre has been left empty.
