Start-up retailers are being encouraged to set up shop in the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, which has launched a new indoor market.
The centre, which is owned and managed by commercial property and investment company LCP, is converting the ground floor of the former New Look store into a market space with 20 stalls – and it has already signed up six tenants.
the six names already signed up are: an eyebrow bar, a café for takeaway service, a mobile phone repair shop, ladies clothing, sweets and wax melts sellers. The centre has already fitted out 13 stalls – ready for when the Government says such retailers can open for business again – and will add additional stalls when more tenants sign up.
Mark Horsfield, centre supervisor, said Pavilion Place Indoor Market was being launched as a springboard for newly set-up businesses and all stalls are being offered on a one-month rolling contract at a set price of £80 per week, inclusive of all utilities.
There is also a guarantee that no rents will be charged if lockdown rules changed, forcing the retailers to close their doors.
“This is a great opportunity for people to see how having a stall would work for them,” Mr Horsefield said. “It’s a financially risk-free option because there are no contracts that will tie tenants to three- or six-months.
“If the last few months has shown us anything it’s that there are many people out there trying their hand at a business, and by offering an affordable pitch it’s a good way for them to see how things can go – if things go really well for them, they could always decide to take on a shop unit.”
Dermit Smith, LCP asset manager for the Pavilion Centre, said the Thornaby scheme was the second of its shopping centres to convert retail space into a market area for small, local traders.
“We’ve already done similar at The Centre in Margate and we were pleased with the response to it, having signed up a number of local businesses who were looking to set up their first retail venture with minimum financial risk in a no-risk environment,” he said. “We are actively reviewing our shopping centre portfolio and will look to roll out this concept to further centres where we think it has potential.”
Anyone interested in finding out more details about having a stall at Pavilion Place, should contact Mark at: centresupervisor@thepavilionthornaby.co.uk
