I seem to remember seeing a planning app quite recently to develop that empty bit.

Here you go;

http://planning.cardiff.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_CARDIFF_DCAPR_103640

Application was allowed on 29th May so watch that space.

There are a number of applications in for the Habitat building - one application for internal/external changes, one to change use to A3 and one to subdivide into 3 units. I think the applications are all from the owner of the building but it seems as though there is some sort of plan afoot. Will be interesting to see what will happen with it.

They might just be getting the app in speculatively, without doing any work until someone signs on the dotted line, keeping the option to rent it as it is now.

There's an Under Offer sign on there so I guess someone is lined up.

Shame about the sub-division as it would make a great flagship store. Better than being empty though.

Two poundlands and a 99p shop?

I wonder if Byron Burger might open in one of the units? They're looking to expand outside of London now - and the Hayes and that building is the sort of location they tend to like.

That would be GREAT! Someone email them the hint ;p and things like American Apparel and Uni-Glo? They have yet to arrive...

All three units are going to be A3 (that is catering). There will be a large upstairs unit, and two on the ground floor, according to the apps. Apparently they've got "little interest" from retailers for the space, which does surprise me a bit given the location.

The article also makes reference to the agents approaching Abercrombie, Uniglo, Forever 21 and others all of whom have confirmed they have no plans for Cardiff at the moment. That probably reflects the disappointing figures for SD2 which I think Random Comment quoted a few weeks back on the St Davids thread.

Is it possible that rents were too expensive to begin with?

Edit

Looking at it Abercrombie and Fitch only has one outlet in the UK. Not sure if they're expanding but outside of America they like to keep an air of exclusivity with only a few branches on the continent. In fact, London was the only European store for a good period of time. It is highly unlikely that they would want to go to Cardiff for these reasons.

I was just going to post about this too...

The rents back in 2007 were the going rate at that time. Demand was more bouyant, and Cardiff had quite a lot less prime retail space to choose from (basically Queen St, Capitol Centre and (most of) St Davids 1). £70,000 from Pret still equates to a capital value for the unit of something like £1.2 million, which isn't too bad.

In terms of the retailers, I don't think Abercrombie or Espirit are a surprise - the former for reasons mentioned by SP, and the latter, because I think they do pretty poorly in the UK. Forever 21 have scaled back their store opening plans considerably, but I would have thought Cardiff would be a good market (lots of students, and low-mid income but fashion conscious young people). And Uniqlo would probably find a market among people wanting good quality basics that a bit more interesting than Gap.

But I do think Cardiff has performed poorly in recent years. For a long time it had resisted the out-of-town plague that has ruined Swansea and Newport. But it looks like it might be succombing to problems. And whilst part of me wants to see the new 'town centre' in Talbot Green come to fruition and be successful, this could further damage Cardiff, especially if parking is free (which I imagine it will be).

My guess is people are shopping less in Cardiff - in part because money is tighter, in part because of improved out-of-town offerings in places like Talbot Green, Cyfarthfa Retail Park, West Newport, Culverhouse Cross etc, and in part because some were driven out of the city centre by the extotionate charges for parking during 2006 - 2009 when NCP had a virtual monopoly on car parking, and who've never come back.

This is totaly subjective but the city centre doesn't feel any less busy to me than it did a few years back. I suspect the problems are more to do with over supply of units due to SD2 and the state of the economy rather than any drop in footfall.

I would have thought that any increase in competition from OOT centres would have been largely off-set by the decline of traditional town centre competitors like Barry, Newport etc.

I'm not aware there has been any reduction in footfall in the City Centre. Quite the reverse in fact, at peak times on the weekend it can be really difficult to find a parking space.

Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere. A new Tesco Express is opening on Wood St under St David's House on Wednesday.

Thank god, there's a distinct lack of Tesco Express stores in town.

Imagine it'll be patronised mainly by drunks and tramps, much like most Tesco's

Shame it's not one of the more attractive supermarkets i.e. Sainsbury's, but shouldn't look that bad really, certainly better than what uit replaced.

Someone take some photos!

Any other news on this area?

Walking down Queen Street I was quite surprised to see the extent of the work on the old Woolworths/BHS store. the entire frontage has been demolished and the rest of the store has been gutted. Personally I thought the old frontage was quite attractive in a 1950s sort of way. Does any one know what Primark are planning?

To be honest I thought it had had its day... and besides Primark aren't ones for conservation... When is this due to open ?

Here you go, they're extending the floors above to the street, before it was recessed.

http://planning.cardiff.gov.uk/online-applications/files/BC98DCDB2326BB8C3006CEA621A5E9B9/pdf/A_13_00131_DCI-Dra_3D_Cardiff_Relocation_AR_30228054590001.pdf-1447179.pdf

That's odd, copied the URL from the Pdf?!

Well on the face of it, this sounds potentially rather marvellous news. From the net I've gleaned that 'Woolworths first opened at 50-54 Queen Street, Cardiff in Summer 1913; it was extended in the 1930s and substantially rebuilt and modernised in 1960-61'.

This pic is from the 1940's

  OLD WORTHWORTHS.... NEW PRIMARK 

Vodafone will be opening an 'exciting new store' in 59-61 Queen Street, where M&Co (a women's fast fashion retailer) currently trade from. The two stores in St Davids evidently aren't enough for Vodafone!

I'm surprised by the continued success and, indeed, expansion of phone shops. I thought more people would be doing things online, or over the phone as they 'upgrade' at the end of contracts. Seems a lot still go into stores though.

The 'Paddy Power' signs are now visible on the old Bauhaus unit on the St Mary St indoor market entrance. Yuck. Needless to say it doesn't really carry the character of the building.

I can't understand the Vodaphone thing. M& Co must be moving elsewhere as I haven't seen any closing down signs and they appear to be advertising for staff. Perhaps they will move into St Davids?

Mixed feelings about Paddy Power. They have taken down that awful H Samuel sign and exposed some more of the ornate brickwork (which means that above ground floor level both sides of the market are now symmetrical). However the gaudy green livery is really quite offensive.

Talking of offensive livery a sign and awning for the new Barbucci Indian restaurant has now been erected (it's on the old Pizza Hut unit in High Street) and it's canary yellow. It looks bloody awful.

Agreed.

can somone takes pics?? thanks!

They definately had an application in...

I don't think anyone has mentioned this before on the forum - Morrisons are opening in the former 'sports unit' on the St Mary St corner of Caroline St.

I can remember a time when on this forum we used to complain the city centre had too few options for buying food, especially late in the evening for people who lived in town. There was the Sainsburys on Queen Street, M&S and the market, none of which stayed open very late. I'm now going back to when we looked forward to the John Lewis having a food court on the ground floor, when SD2 was still a hole in the ground. I think it is an improvement that there are now more places for general household shopping in the evenings, but we now seem to be overserved with places to get corn flakes.

Not really to do with food outlets in the city centre opening late. I have mentioned before concerning the former Queens West Shopping Centre - opposite Queens Arcade. I wrote to Cardiff Council who said that both developments are owned by the same company! Queens West does let the top end of Queen Street down, i do think this should be re-developed as a shopping centre - most of it is not used and blocked off. It could be re-developed with an anchor store such as Selfridges or Harvey Nicols - we are in a downturn however Cardiff has bucked the trend - SD2 as an example - the footfall through the many retail areas of the city centre prove this. An ideal investment opportunity in my opinion.

I think it could work - minus the food theatre that was originally on the top floor, if an upmarket department store was located there - it would bring in the shoppers.
BYW - does anyone have any updates on BHS I undersand they were looking for new premises 6 months after the old store closed - i wonder if they will take over the Primark shop opposite......................

I think one reason they are coming is because they can't get the out-of-town space they previously used to go for. This means that to serve the growing market (higher population, people trading up to more premium products, which seems to be happening again), they need to open a growing number of smaller stores. Some of those are neighbourhood stores where people live. But, some of those are city centre stores where people work, where they can get their lunch from, or where they can nip to after work before going home. This means what looks like an oversupply given the residential population of the city centre might actually reflect a shift in food shopping away from the biggest superstores back to smaller stores closer to home and work.

From what i hear its purely down to money, supermarkets make more money in smaller stores than larger ones, if you think of the massive tesco on Western Ave half of the floor space is homewares and electrical, which people buy online and have delivered. So thats half a store making no money and costing to run.