Neals Yard retail store design by Barber opens at Grand Central, Birmingham

Another new retail store design by Barber took pride of place at the opening of the new £150 million Grand Central Birmingham retail development which opened its doors to the public recently. The store was the second in a series we have been developing for Neal’s Yard Remedies, the first of which – regular readers of the blog may remember – opened in Manchester a few weeks ago. The store design is a new direction for Neal’s Yard, which maintains their brand whilst adding to their style with a range of exciting features developed to engage customers as part of a holistic retail experience.

The retail transformation at Grand Central has taken five years to achieve. It sits above the recently redeveloped Birmingham New Street railway station. Once a disappointing stop over for commuters changing trains as they passed through the Midlands, the station is now very much the jewel in it’s crown – making it a sought-after destination rather than a passing place. The Grand Central retail development features 66 new shops and restaurants – more than half of which are new to Birmingham. According to sources, the timing of the new opening could not have been better as it has happened during a month that is so packed full of activity in the local area that retailers call it ‘Super September.’

The Grand Central development is a really big deal for Birmingham, as Centre Manager, Jonathan Cheetham explains:

“This has been brought to life through a culmination of a dedicated, committed group from across the city. It’s a proud day for Birmingham and demonstrates our continued retail power to bring these high quality shops and restaurants to the Birmingham consumer, marking another chapter in the ongoing renaissance of our great city.”

The director of the development, Richard Brown said that the five years of development were well worth the wait. It could not have been done any quicker, because of the scale of the development – which has ultimately paid off:

“Not only is New Street Station a magnificent new development for passengers and commuters, but Grand Central also offers a unique and unforgettable shopping experience for all. We are proud that Birmingham is at forefront of such an impressive aesthetic design which will be enjoyed and admired by people across the UK and worldwide.”

And the Leader of Birmingham City Council, Sir Albert Bore, concurs:

“The arrival of Grand Central provides even more shopping and dining choice for people in the city centre. With its stainless steel facade wrapping around the entire building, Grand Central makes an impressive impact on Birmingham’s ever improving architectural landscape. The creation of over 1000 jobs in retail, hospitality, catering and customer service also provides a significant number of opportunities for local people.”

The Neal’s Yard store is the second one in the UK using our new retail design and we’re very excited to be involved with such a prestigious development.