New stores hope for retail park after Gap’s closure

THE centre manager of a Derbyshire designer outlet village is confident even more “significant” brands will open there soon.

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet East Midlands has welcomed the arrival of American burger chain Five Guys and confectionary giant Haribo is set to open there later this year.

Gap will however be leaving the South Normanton-based centre at the end of this month as it shuts all 81 of its stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Centre manager David Jackson says it also provides an opportunity to speak to new brands interested in moving into the centre.

Mr Jackson said: “Gap is a store which has been with us for 10 years and it is a loss for the high street and the shopping centre. But it does give us the opportunity to start talking to other brands and look at a change in the make-up of the front of the centre.

“Without giving away too much detail, I can say that the plans we’re working on for the Gap store are significant and something will replace it next year.”

Of the 45 members of staff affected by the Gap closure, 15 have so far been redeployed to work in other stores and roles within the centre.

Mr Jackson highlighted how the centre’s sportswear brands, like Nike, Adidas and Under Armour, and restaurants, such as Pizza Express and the newly-opened Five Guys, have proved popular over recent months.

Mr Jackson, who has been centre manager since February 2020, said: “While I can’t release names at this stage, we know that sportswear has been incredibly popular since the centre reopened last year.”