if
it's about Cardiff..
Sport, Entertainment, Transportation, Business,
Development Projects, Leisure, Eating, Drinking,
Nightlife, Shopping, Train Spotting! etc.. then we want it here!
Well, I Didn't expect to see an Amarni brand in Cardiff! & I am actually glad those two stores have closed. They weren't exactly asses to the centre! More space for bigger and better retailers in my eyes.
Jantra - I wasn't going to say anything but yes, we do need more space for bigger and better asses in the city centre as anonymous pointed out. Rest assured , I'm sure that there'll be plenty of them buying overpriced tat in that new shop.
Ian - have a look down at the new bit of Barkers (by the door to the retail bit), it's particularly eclectic.
Yes Barkers coffee shop is very eclectic, but stays the good side of 'wacky'. Apparently it's driving footfall in the arcade as well. Incidently the Dragons Kitchen cafe at the Castle St end of the cafe has closed. Thats about the 4th business to crash and burn in that unit in the last few years whilst Cafe Minuet sees off all contenders and even seems to get busier.
Curzon, who own a number of the arcades are looking to knock through a couple of units in High St arcade and try to replicate the success of Barkers (who have a £10 for any item pop up shop opposite the proposed units).
On the subject of arcades there is also an application in for the old Kiwi's/Rebel Rebel unit in Wyndham Arcade to stay open until 11pm. This must be with regards to the organic indoor market/cafe/restaurant/bar that was reportedly opening as referred to in another thread on this forum and reported in the Echo.
Yes, the Wyndham Arcade application is for Bill's Cafe and Produce Store. There a few in London now and I went to the Angel branch last week. It's not really a store, just a few sauces etc on sale, the menu looks reasonably priced but the portions are small. The service was chaotic too.
I presumed that there would be some sort of mixed set of units offering a bit of everything. I think that I must have run ahead of the facts in the expectation stakes.
On the subject of arcades there is also an application in for the old Kiwi's/Rebel Rebel unit in Wyndham Arcade to stay open until 11pm. This must be with regards to the organic indoor market/cafe/restaurant/bar that was reportedly opening as referred to in another thread on this forum and reported in the Echo.
Quite ironic that the main reason given for Kiwis moving out of the arcade was so they could secure it at night yet now they are applying to keep the new tenants open til 11! Although having said that, the new Kiwis is far superior to its predecessor and is a decent place to watch the rugby/football in town.
Quite ironic that the main reason given for Kiwis moving out of the arcade was so they could secure it at night yet now they are applying to keep the new tenants open til 11! Although having said that, the new Kiwis is far superior to its predecessor and is a decent place to watch the rugby/football in town.
Well there's a bit of a difference between 11.30 and 2.30 or when ever it was Kiwis used to close!
It looks to me like the owners have been preparing for the Bill's (or similar) development for some time by moving tenants like Kiwis and Rebel Rebel to alternative units.
It's smart mangagement and very welcome bearing in mind the very sorry state Wyndham Arcade had descended into under previous owners. I even seem to remember that demolition was proposed at one stage.
As you say, the new Kiwis is much nicer than the old one so it's wins all round!
One of the managers in the Bristol store told me that they have secured a building in Cardiff.
Although I have been scouring the Cardiff Council planning applications and can't see anything yet!
However the Habitat building would be just perfect for JW, I can see it having the same resemblance as the JW in Convent Gardens in London.
I can't wait to apply for a job, but I will be very sad having to leave Gilly Hicks!
I just scoured the cardiff planning apps to no avail... Ive been pushing for JW for ages now so this is awesome news... However i think for a cardiff store, maybe the Habitat unit is a little to big for jack wills but whatever unit they chose, i will be there :L
Leaving Abercrombie for Jack Wills is it? I wouldn't mind being an Abercrombie manager one day in my career i must be honest!
I have a manager interview next week for Hollister, so cross fingers! But now JW is coming here, that might hinder my plans!
So excited!
Completely off topic now but i am an Abercrombie geek. I know everything there is to know about the 4 brands... I am only 17 :L But one thing i dont know, is what is is like to be an Abercrombie employee! Whats it like to work for the company???
paha! It's the best company I have worked for, not going to lie! It's like working in a hectic party, where everybody gets along with one and other! (NO JOKE) You feel good whipping you Abercrombie associate card out, and people are instantly drawn to it! In Gilly Hicks and Hollister Cardiff, there are 600+ people working in those stores, no joke! You feel exclusive and gives your self esteem a boost!
Some people may call me shallow for my views above, but until you have worked at an Abercrombie store, you have no idea how it feels.
One of my best friends worked in the Abercrombie store in London and didn't like it at all. Apart from a few of the girls, apparently the staff fell in to two categories: arrogant straight men, and bitchy gossipy gay men and women. Okay playing on some stereotypes there, but that was his experience.
I find the whole concept a bit vacuous. The dancing upstairs in London looks moronic, and the pricing proves people will buy anything if you associate it with sex appeal. Having said that I own a couple of polo shirts, but only bought in the US where it is half the price.
Don't like the preppy label full stop. What's wrong with the likes of one true Saxon, duffer of st George, lyle and Scott and aquascutum. Crombie, Pringle, Thomas pink, Berwyn and Berwyn and Barbour are all classic uk labels, understated, well cut and smart
most of those labels are available around the city. Barbour on Castle street - the name of the shop escapes me, duffer of St. George in debenhams Aquascutum has recently gone into administration. I think Crombie and Pringle are available in Howells. Would be nice to see a Howies around the place too. They are a Welsh brand that used to have a shop on Carnaby street and retain their one in Cardigan. They make their jeans in Cardigan
most of those labels are available around the city. Barbour on Castle street - the name of the shop escapes me, duffer of St. George in debenhams Aquascutum has recently gone into administration. I think Crombie and Pringle are available in Howells. Would be nice to see a Howies around the place too. They are a Welsh brand that used to have a shop on Carnaby street and retain their one in Cardigan. They make their jeans in Cardigan
They should make cardigans in Cardigan as well. I will write to Howies and suggest just that
most of those labels are available around the city. Barbour on Castle street - the name of the shop escapes me, duffer of St. George in debenhams Aquascutum has recently gone into administration. I think Crombie and Pringle are available in Howells. Would be nice to see a Howies around the place too. They are a Welsh brand that used to have a shop on Carnaby street and retain their one in Cardigan. They make their jeans in Cardigan
sorry, thats not what I was getting at. My point was that there are lots of decent British marques which are, imho, more stylish and classically cut than the preppy american dross that is so prevalent in this thread.
you can't beat an aquascutum suit, thomas pink shirt and tie, crombie greatcoat and a pair of oliver sweeney. I sound like patrick bateman
In this day and age can a shop really exist by selling naff cards and party accessories? Maybe they will have to close a few stores. Personally I think they should vacate their Queens Street premises because the way they have treated it is disgusting. Such a lovely Art Deco design rotting in the City Centre
Possibly not the correct thread but Brains have announced that they are looking to open up to 30 new Coffe No 1's in the next 3 years across south Wales and the south west of England.
Perhaps they will be looking for a few more city centre outlets especially if Marland House is for the chop (one lives in hope). I could see them taking up one of the proposed units under the new Admiral building, perhaps in SD, maybe St Mary/High St etc.
Creperie de Sophie is due to open in the High Street Arcade. It's in the unit that Catapult were in before (who have taken a bigger unit in Duke St arcade).
There is a plan for a cafe for the empty units directly opposite. I think the owners are trying to replicate the success of Barkers coffee shop in the Castle Arcade. That is packed out almsot every day. As a consequence the arcade has quite a high footfall although I wonder if that translates into sales.
Just looking through earlier posts in this thread and I appear to have said almost exactly the same thing on 27 April as I said in my post just a few minutes ago. I've become just like the old bloke in the corner of the pub muttering away to himself....
Does anyone know what's happening with the Bill's produce/cafe development (where Kiwis was)? planning apps are up in the windows and it had been a hive of activity a few weeks ago, but it's all gone quiet.
I noticed on my travels that the harp shop in High St Arcade has closed down. They have moved to Pantbach Rd in Rhiwbina.
I think this makes perfect sense for them - they were likely to be a "destination shop" and in that sense it doesn't matter that they do not have a presence in the city centre. And no doubt quite a lot of what they sold would have had to have been picked up by car or delivered. Pantbach Rd offers that more than High St I guess.
Still I'm quite sad to see them go - it did offer a bit of local flavour and a bit of 'cultural cache'. It's unlikely that there are many cities in the UK with specialist harp shops in their city centre.
Looks like Fred and Graces (expensive kids clothes shop in Morgan Arcade) has bit the dust. Also Suzanne James Wedding Shop in Castle Arcade (where Chessmen used to be) has shut.
I noticed on my travels that the harp shop in High St Arcade has closed down. They have moved to Pantbach Rd in Rhiwbina.
I think this makes perfect sense for them - they were likely to be a "destination shop" and in that sense it doesn't matter that they do not have a presence in the city centre. And no doubt quite a lot of what they sold would have had to have been picked up by car or delivered. Pantbach Rd offers that more than High St I guess.
Still I'm quite sad to see them go - it did offer a bit of local flavour and a bit of 'cultural cache'. It's unlikely that there are many cities in the UK with specialist harp shops in their city centre.
sickens me that there is nowhere in town that I can buy an Echo, a pint of milk and a harp.
Poundland! Application for signage today. Not sure if this is a relocation or a second store. Its better than nothing I suppose.
I suspect that's the only sort of retailer you're going to get at the eastern end of Queen Street in this economic climate. As you say it's better than nothing. To be fair, although it's a discounter Poundland's signage, window displays etc aren't bad.
Groan. I love that building, one of the few art deco buildings in the city. I was hoping for an upmarket restaurant. I suppose it's better than nothing as you say.
That block of Queen St is very pleasant architecturally speaking. The Barclays bank building is lovely but the building housing KFC, Strabucks etc is also a very nice example of 1920/30's architecture. The only downside is that it highlights just how bloody awful the Capitol centre opposite is.
The only downside is that it highlights just how bloody awful the Capitol centre opposite is.
Don't get me started. To think that we lost the Capitol cinema, the New Continental, the Dutch Cafe, the Cory Hall, the Caricature Theatre and the YMCA for that steaming pile of...
Groan. I love that building, one of the few art deco buildings in the city. I was hoping for an upmarket restaurant. I suppose it's better than nothing as you say.
That block of Queen St is very pleasant architecturally speaking. The Barclays bank building is lovely but the building housing KFC, Strabucks etc is also a very nice example of 1920/30's architecture. The only downside is that it highlights just how bloody awful the Capitol centre opposite is.
Wasn't most of that building demolished and only the facade kept when they redeveloped that block with the new Sainsburys etc?
The front facade of River Island is St Davids is down! It's a massive store! Very impressed with the look they have gone for, totally different to their normal shops!
I HOPE this doesn't mean they will close their other store...
I know one of the managers at the existing store - they have no plans at the moment to close the Queen Street store. I believe that they are going to dedicate a significant amount of floor space to a children's wear department in the new store.
I am also told that the inspiration for the store fit out comes from Urban Outfitters and Cult/Superdry.
