if
it's about Cardiff..
Sport, Entertainment, Transportation, Business,
Development Projects, Leisure, Eating, Drinking,
Nightlife, Shopping, Train Spotting! etc.. then we want it here!
It'd be nice to see an American Apparel in Cardiff.
I spoke to the manager of American Apparel in Bristol. They are from Tonyrefail and have tried to champion Cardiff as a new location, they want to run it.
However, via teleconferencing with their American owners, they have a lack of knowledge of anywhere in Wales. I have told them to continue pressing even if it's just to stop me having to drive my daughter all the way to Cabot Circus.
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.
Forgot to mention that the 'M Local' signs have all long since disappeared, so maybe they are not moving in after all.
On other arcade realated news, they have taken down the window coverings from Barker's Tea Shoppe in High St Arcade. This project was supposed to be ready in Autumn 2012. It appears as if a hell of a lot of effort has been expended on the fit-out. It is very reminiscent of Barker's Coffee Shoppe so probably cost quite a mint to kit out.
On other arcade realated news, they have taken down the window coverings from Barker's Tea Shoppe in High St Arcade. This project was supposed to be ready in Autumn 2012. It appears as if a hell of a lot of effort has been expended on the fit-out. It is very reminiscent of Barker's Coffee Shoppe so probably cost quite a mint to kit out.
Fit-out must be running late - they're missing out on the bumper Christmas trade. Looking forward to trying it though.
Matalan is considering a wider launch onto the high street as it ramps up its fashion credentials to take on more aspirational rivals.
Drapers understands the value retailer has signed a lease to take a property in Cardiff city centre, and is thought to be eyeing Northern cities such as Manchester or Leeds. The Cardiff store, at 43 Queen Street, is expected to open towards the end of the year.
Other retailers on the street include Primark, New Look, Topshop and Marks & Spencer.
Matalan, which has 217 UK stores, is also thought to be scouting for a prime London location, with sources suggesting it was keen to get onto Oxford Street, but it is not believed to have found a suitable site.
The Cardiff move follows Matalan’s successful high street debut last autumn, when model and footballer’s wife Abbey Clancy opened a store in Liverpool’s Williamson Square and put her name to a collection.
The news comes as the retailer continues a turnaround in its womenswear division. Matalan buying director Mitchell Hughes told Drapers last November that the division was getting “back on track”, with a new team in place and greater emphasis on trends and statement pieces.
It is believed Matalan is hoping a higher profile in high street locations, coupled with more trend-led collections, could pit it against the likes of Primark and River Island.
Matalan managing director Jason Hargreaves, son of founder John Hargreaves, said: “We opened a store in Liverpool town centre in October last year and we have been pleased with the results to date.
“We intend to open another pilot store in Cardiff towards the end of this year that will be a larger concept. We will continue to review the results of these city centre stores so that we can better understand the opportunities they provide for us. Presently, there are no plans in place to open any further stores.”
The strategy comes after a year in which both retail parks and high streets experienced drops in footfall, although out-of-town locations fared slightly better with a decline of 0.94% compared with a drop of 1.19% on the high street throughout the UK.
Diane Wehrle, marketing and insights director at Springboard Research, said high streets were more “volatile and unpredictable”, often as a result of the weather, but that Matalan could benefit from “huge spikes in footfall at certain times – buoyed by the evening economy”.
43 Queen Street would be the existing Primark store on Queen Street, so that now seems to confirm Primark will not trade from two stores in Cardiff once the new St David's store opens.
That's interesting to hear, I always thought that it would be BHS taking over Primark's unit in a swap though. I wonder if BHS have plans to locate back to the city centre soon at all and if so where could they go?!
Primark were not in the Capitol Centre. Before moving to their current store on Queen Street they were on Frederick Street in the area now occupied by St. David's 2.
That MSU is being split in two with the proposed Wahaca restaurant replacing LK Bennett trading over 2 levels. The MSU will shrink to about 15000 feet I think, which is probably a bit too small.
Does anyone know when/why Harley's cafe in Royal Arcade closed down?
I went in there a few times when I used to work in town, I thought it was quite popular.
It closed a few months ago. I think it struggled when Fresh baguette store opened up and then Wally's delicatessan opened a cafe upstairs - all in the same arcade.
High St Arcade is also getting a bit competitive on the cafe front.
Barkers upmarket Tea Shoppe opened a month ago in that very arcade, and today I went into another new place which opened last week (located between Barkers and Cafe Atlantic). I don't know the name but it's on the top floor above a shop which sells rustique and retro ornaments. The blond woman who runs it was lovely. She's clearly got an eye for quirky interiors and the place deserves to succeed. The venue is very small (sits about 10) and the prices seem on the low side - so she's going to have to work like a demon to make it work. I reckon she needs to up the prices for such a niche to succeed.
I think that place is called Cinnamon Sticks and sells a lot of quirky stuff on the ground floor (a bit like a miniature flea market). I'll have to give it a try.
I went into Continental Coffee the other day which is opposite Cafe Minuet in Castle Arcade. Very nice. They sell a range of speciality coffee's plus panini's, soups etc. It was also surprisingly busy given that Cafe Minuet, Madam Fromage and Barker Coffee are all very well established and thriving in the same arcade.
I think Cardiff is developing a wealth of decent places to have lunch and certainly there is a lot more around than there was even a few years ago. Out of places that I have ate in the last few weeks I would recommend Wally's Kaffeehaus above the deli. German/Austrian fare which is quite reasonably priced. Munchesters next to little O'Neils is also good. They sell wraps which sounds a bit boring but they taste incredible. Not particularly cheap but they are pretty filling. Also Crumbs salad in Morgan Arcade is an old stand by and can't be beaten if you fancy a salad.
You really don't need to go anywhere near the coffee house chains these days unless you want to.
I find it so sad that so many of my friends back in Cardiff are constantly tagging themselves into Starbucks on Facebook though. Overpriced coffee or 'machimochilatteatos' or whatever silly name they come up with next, in an uninspiring environment. I always make sure we go somewhere independent.
The arcades and the cafes are great, but I also feel that in some ways they have a negative impact on the city centre, especially the restaurant / bar offering. Basically most of the smaller independent, quirky and character-filled venues in town are locked away after 6pm. You could imagine that if there were not in the arcades, but in a regular street, then some might open later at night and give more variety in the evenings, allowing space for an independent restaurant scene in town and a few less boozy places for a wine or coffee.
No offence, but this is REALLY old news. They've been closing for about a year and shame that it was when it was announced, I wish they'd just hurry up now. Especially if they can get some seating on thd street.
Long term lurker but something to contribute today!
Strictly speaking this relates to Cardiff Bay retail rather than City Centre, but the coffee shop theme continues:
I noticed another independent coffee shop today that I haven't previously spotted; in the old Bute Dock Hotel opposite Cymric House. I can't remember the name; I will pop back later for a look and take a picture as it was nicely presented. The marketing office for Empire House still appears to occupy a third of the frontage.
Probably old news, but the florist on Bute Street that opened circa six months ago in the short lived Captain Scott pub (formerly a Chinese) appears to be going strong.
I mentioned this on another thread a short while ago.It's called the Bombay Cafe and the sign says est 1953.
They've since slapped Halal signs on the windows, which, as a vegetarian, is kind of putting me off by making it sound less of a coffee shop and more of a butchers! It hasn't opened yet but looks imminent.
Century Falcon
Probably old news, but the florist on Bute Street that opened circa six months ago in the short lived Captain Scott pub (formerly a Chinese) appears to be going strong.
I really hope that the florists ( http://sunflowerandi.co.uk/ are doing well, but unfortunately I received an email from someone (who had presumably spoken to them) who was almost imploring people to go there because they were struggling to make ends meet.
I really hope that the florists ( http://sunflowerandi.co.uk/ are doing well, but unfortunately I received an email from someone (who had presumably spoken to them) who was almost imploring people to go there because they were struggling to make ends meet.
Oh that's a shame, was that before or after Valentine's Day?
I'm not one of those people who rants against big companies. I can live with Tesco - but Starbucks? It's just very bad coffee. Still, the tide seems to be receeding. They've pulled out of Australia already and I suspect the UK operation will be in trouble soon enough.
It's a bad time for retailers with an ampersand in their name: both Ollie & Nic and Mamas & Papas are closing down in St Davids.
No surprise with M&P - the wife loves the place but I find it awfully expensive when compared to Amazon or even Mothercare.
Also don't think a city centre location is ideal if you're picking up bulky items like pushchairs, cots, high chairs...
Mama's and Papa's have a second store in the city I think - in Leckwith. Ollie and Nic is a bit of a surprise as its seemed reasonably busy.
We might see a fair bit of churn in stores around October this year as that marks 5 years(!) since St David's opened: quite a number of retailers will have break clauses at that point, and they might reassess their presence. It will also give St David's a chance to move retailers around and to boot underperforming retailers out and get others in (if there is demand).
It seems that there is demand for additional A3 space (e.g. Wahaca), and performance seems decent for low-mid market retailers. But I think that with these 2 retailers and LK Bennett pulling out, the centre might be struggling with the higher end retailers. Might see a few others like Folli Follie, Crabtree, Guess and Reiss go or downsize.
I'm glad that there were customers in Continental Cafe because the only person I've ever seen in there has been me, and I've only been in there once!
Mere days after recommending it to discerning coffee lovers Continental Cafe has shut. The sign says it's due to family circumstances. Maybe the day I went there and it was quite full was an anomaly. I went there again with my wife and had something to eat as well as a coffee and there were only three other customers during the whole of the lunch hour. During that time maybe four or five other people came in but walked out as the owner was nowhere to be seen having disappeared downstairs.
Didn't seem to get a mention on any of the Retail threads, but Sketchers has opened a new store next to Animal in Queens Arcade! The store was opened by Peter Andre on the Weekend!
Rhodri, is that a joke? Skechers is a casual footware company - basically trainers - which was cool for a while. Its still a bit sad for Peter Andre, but not quite a dry-cleaners. And infact, it seems quite a coup for Queen's Arcade given their recent lettings history.
I'd rather there was a dry cleaners* in there rather than yet another sodding shoe shop.
The extent to which the retail offer is increasingly dominated by fashion is depressing for those of us not particularly interested in designer daps and skinny jeans. It's inevitable, I suppose with other sectors mainly trading online these days.