New Look on the move in Wolverhampton

The shopping centre’s owners Benson Elliot have announced that New Look has committed to a 18,000 sq ft unit at the lower level next to H&M in the heart of the shopping centre.

The new store is due to open in early November.

It replaces the current flagship 25,000 sq ft store which connects the centre to Queen Square and which opened in 2006.

The store, which took over 13 former units and was one of its biggest branches in the Midlands, employed 100 when it opened replacing the original Wolverhampton New Look in Dudley Street.

New Look was not prepared to comment on the impact on numbers employed from the move.

The New Look switch comes after leading independent jeweller T H Baker opened its latest store in the Mander Centre. The family-run jeweller has returned to Wolverhampton after a 40-year absence and now occupies a 2,000 sq ft unit on the upper mall, opposite the 93,000 sq ft anchor Debenhams department store.

Richard Scharenguivel, centre manager at the Mander Centre, said: “The announcement that New Look will be investing in our refurbished centre with its most up-to-date store format is fantastic news and will further enhance the Mander Centre’s vibrant fashion offering.

The opening of Debenhams last year has bolstered the Centre’s appeal as a ‘one-stop’ fashion destination with the store bringing new brands to the city in a new style store format – one of only two in the country."

He added: “T H Baker is also proving to be a popular addition to the centre and we’re looking forward to announcing the names of a number of other high-profile retailers who will be opening in the coming months.”

Cushman & Wakefield, Jackson Criss and BWD are the leasing agents at the Mander Centre on behalf of Benson Elliot.

In March it was announced that nearly 1,000 shop workers face the axe after New Look revealed plans to shut 60 stores as part of a rescue plan.

New Look has struggled in a difficult retail environment and put together a rescue deal.