New lease of life for empty French Connection shop
‘QUALITY OPERATOR’ HAS AGREED TERMS TO TAKE ON LANDMARK CITY BUILDING
THE site of the former Nottingham clothes store French Connection is set to reopen with an “exciting” new operator at the helm.
The shop, in Victoria Street, a former HSBC bank, closed in January 2020 when the lease expired and has been empty ever since.
Property agents FHP have revealed that the building is now under offer and should be opening in 2022.
The property - located next door to Delilah’s Fine Foods and close to Old Market Square - was marketed as a flagship retail/leisure opportunity meaning it could be a shop, bar or restaurant.
Shoppers told the Post what they would like to see there.
Hugh Walsh, 48, said the building looks suitable for a clothes store.
“I think something for clothes - it looks ideal for a clothes shop of some sort,” Mr Walsh said.
“It is a very big building. I think of more high end clothes shop.”
Rosemarie Ferris, 88, retired, from Nottingham said: “It’s a lovely building. I wouldn’t like to see food stores, I’d like to see shops. The kind like Debenhams or even a load of franchises so the windows look nice and you can see loads of different brands.”
Helen O’nions, 50, a lecturer from Nottingham says she would like to see a space for an indoor food market.
“I would actually like to see a decent food market,” she said.
“An indoor food market, but high end food - not junk food. It would be nice to have somewhere to sit and be a social space. But also where you can see people cooking, where you can buy nice food and freshly cooked stuff.
“There’s not much at this end of town and I think there’s a demand for something like that here.”
Natalie Parks, 51, who studies at the University of Nottingham said: “I think something to encourage independent retailers, less high street brands and have almost like little pop-up shops.
“I think we have enough food places around here.
“To encourage independent retailers, have less chains and have more local artists’ hands.”
Jordan Taylor, 29, a retail manager from Mansfield, told the Post: “Ideally no hospitality, we already have so much.
“In the current climate the new bars and restaurants aren’t lasting very long in Nottingham - they just disappear.
“Maybe an indoor market could be quite good.
“If it’s done well it could do really well in a building like this.”
Oliver Marshall, associate director at FHP Property Consultants, said the identity of the new operator is under wraps until the deal is fully completed.
But he added: “We are thrilled to confirm that terms for 6-10 Victoria Street have now been agreed and solicitors have been instructed to progress the letting.
“It is a magnificent property and we have worked hard to secure a quality operator for the city, after receiving several offers.
“We very nearly agreed terms on the property before the pandemic but as a result that interest fell away.
“The property has stood empty since FCUK vacated and we cannot wait to see it brought back to life.”
“Unfortunately our lips are sealed as to what or who at the moment but stay posted for updates.”