The former Allders department store in Croydon is set to be transformed into a new retail outlet.
Croydon Village Outlet has agreed with landlord Minerva to occupy the 530,000 sq ft store to sell designer brands at a discount. There will also be a 28,000 sq ft world food hall.
It is understood the new outlet store will open in September
It comes after Harold Tillman’s Allders department store, one of the biggest in London, collapsed into the hands of administrators at Duff & Phelps in June 2012. It finished trading last September.
The store sits adjacent to the Whitgift mall, which is to be redeveloped by Westfield and Hammerson. An outline planning application for the town centre project is set to be decided in September.
Tim Garnham, joint chief executive of Minerva, said: “We are pleased to have secured Croydon Village Outlet as a tenant for the former Allders site, which is a landmark building in the heart of Croydon.
“As a responsible landlord, we’ve acted in the best interests of Croydon and its residents by seeking a letting that ensures this building does not lie dormant and helps to serve the town by providing jobs and a retail offering.”
Croydon Village Outlet managing director, Marco Cash, added: “The former Allders site is a prime and ideal location to launch Britain’s first inner city off-price retail outlet.
“We are investing millions of pounds refitting and stocking the store to create a shopping destination which the Croydon people are proud of and that will attract people from outside the town.”
Montagu Evans advised Minerva
annabel.dixon@estatesgazette.com
