Birmingham Post

No longer ‘meet at back of Rackhams’

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opening on Colmore Row.

At nearly half a million square feet of space, it has – until now – withstood the launch of John Lewis, Debenhams, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges in the city.

So what will happen to this side of town when it closes next year?

Martineau Place, a shopping parade opposite, used to be a hub of fashion shops and places to eat out, housing a large GAP, H&M, Claire’s Accessorie­s and Pizza Hut.

Today, it feels like an empty shell, with mainly cheap shops like Poundland, CEX, Deichmann and Bonmarche. And what will happen to the huge building that houses the store that so many Brummies came to see as a landmark?

Earlier this year the ‘Brutiful Birmingham’ campaign group cited the building as a 20th century classic in one of its regular Post columns.

After closure maybe it it could make an attractive office block – though Colmore Row is already packed with those.

With such a vast space to fill, it is unlikely another major store will be taking this on in the current climate, which has left many major retailers struggling.

In New Street, the huge BHS store was replaced by H&M and the Pavilions shopping centre in High Street is being taken over as the world’s largest Primark so neither of these are likely to make a move to this end of town.

There is only so much retail to go around so the future of shopping in this part of the city doesn’t look bright.

And saying “meet me at the back of Rackhams” will never have the same meaning again.

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