60 new jobs as bar and top name stores announced for Swansea
AN exclusive French chain is opening its first UK store in Swansea — because it wants to be part of the city's "vibe".
New clothes shops and a bar are also opening, with more than 60 new jobs set to be created.
National chains Country Casuals and Viyella will be launching a new store at the Princess Way development on Saturday.
French shoe shop chain Roberto Durville will also be opening a store at the former David Evans site in the spring — its first UK store.
Roberto Durville will start fitting out its store in the new year to sit alongside its existing outlets in Paris, Nice and Toulouse.
Its founder and namesake said: "We were looking for a base in the UK that has roughly the same population and demographics as Toulouse and Swansea is a good fit for our brand.
"We visited the city when we were looking for a UK location, and were very impressed.
"There's a vibe in Swansea at the moment because of so many exciting redevelopment projects, and that's something we want to be a part of."
Swansea's Quadrant shopping centre now has retailers trading in 38 of its 39 units.
Animal has recently opened in the Quadrant as well as Schuh and Hawkins Bazaar.
Negotiations are now underway on the final vacant unit, near the Officer's Club in the centre.
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And on Wind Street husband and wife team Andrew and Claire Beal are putting the finishing touches to The Peppermint Bar which will officially open for business on Wednesday at the site of the former Que Pasa restaurant.
Mr and Mrs Beal have hired manager Bruno Nunes, who ran Revolution on Wind Street for five years, to take care of their new venture. Mr Beal said the business was an opportunity not to be missed.
The Peppermint Bar will be run over two levels with a bar and dining area on the ground floor and a full table service lounge with a night-time food menu upstairs.
Swansea's Lord Mayor Alan Lloyd will open Country Casuals' new store on Saturday and shop manager Gail Morrell said Swansea needed a store with the level of prestige associated with the brand.
She said: "There are a lot of new stores in that area. Country Casuals is a good name in that price sector.
"There are a lot of companies that are going to be approaching developers for other units."
Swansea Council leader Chris Holley said the arrival of the new stores was a "terrific early Christmas present for the city centre".
He said: "This is great news for Swansea and great news for local people in the countdown to Christmas. The new Princess Way development is starting to show what a successful project it is, attracting a new kind of retail shopping experience.
"In these tough times the latest investments are a boost to our economic confidence."
Councillor Gareth Sullivan, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Economic and Strategic Development, said Swansea is bucking the trend.
He said: "This news will strengthen Swansea city centre's reputation as the regional shopping centre of South West Wales."
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24 Comments
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by Stephen G, Swansea
Thursday, December 03 2009, 8:54AM
“Steve Jones
ictable
You are right. I have almost given up reading this site - the moaners and whingers are just too tediously predictable. There are only about a dozen of them - perhaps Swansea Council should pay them to move to Llanelli or Port Talbot”
by Achmeds, Uncle
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 8:09PM
“I possess two feet so two shoes would suffice,one left one and a right one, a matching pair in my eyes.
I have no need to peruse a throng of shoe shops as i only need a one pair, I prefer black to brown , preferably slip-ons as no laces to tie, Oh silly me, i have those shops available to me already. I have no need to pay extra to have a label on it saying it bought from x y or z shop.”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 7:56PM
“Re:Dai, Swansea
Same old Dai, same old moans and same Scrooge!”
by Steve Jones, Uplands
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 12:56PM
“Gowerview, sA1 - what you suggest costs money and Swansea doesn't have any. Private companies don't want to put the money up because they would rather go to a town that welcomes them.
People in other towns are happy when new shops, restaurants, bars, etc are opened. In Swansea you just get complaints that the shops are overpriced. A Happy Shopper, Swansea correctly pointed out, most Swansea residents are happy with a pound shop.
So if there is a major regeneration, what shops would you like to see? I can guarantee that most people on here will complain whatever they are. And why would those shops want to come with so many moaners living in the city.”
by Dai, Swansea
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 9:39AM
“RE - angelo, france.toulouse. - hello I am talous latrec from the civic centre swansea - nice of you to write in.
Another of Councillor Holley's stooges - perhaps old james sheridan in disguise????????”
by angelo, france.toulouse.
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 12:10AM
“hello i am angelo the owner of roberto durville in uk i can tell u that u will be proud to have roberto durville in swansea as i am proud to open my first shop in uk in swansea u will have the best shoe shop of the uk so i am more than impatient to proove that swansea is a great city.my wife is welsh and i love her and wales is country and i love it too.”
by Lyndon, Caerdydd
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 10:50PM
“You have to laugh at these comments really. If only Swansea could harness the power of its citizens pitiful whingeing. they could be the new Saudi Arabia.
Will Roberto Durville be bringing some of his models, do you think?”
by Susan, Neath
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 7:33PM
“The Roberto Durville Shop in Toulouse address is 30-32 Rue des Changes. I've shopped there on several visits to toulouse and they have shoes and fantastic boots ranging from 20 euro's up to 199 euro's so there's something to cater to everyones taste. People should wait to see the shop or visit one in France before they pre-judge. Also they cater for men and have a huge range of shoes. I for one can't wait for the shop to be more local. Bring on the new year so I can go to the shop. Great News.”
by AJ, Uplands
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 7:25PM
“Fabulous news! I can't wait to pop into Hawkins Bazaar tomorrow and after taking a look at the Roberto Durville site, I'm just giddy with excitement at some of the gorgeous boots and shoes.
As for the rest of the complainers who've posted, remember, not everyone in Swansea shops in Pound Shops. For goodness' sake, take a few weeks off from moaning, it's almost Christmas!”
by Gowerview, sA1
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 5:03PM
“The council are fooling no-one and rightly so.
They've allowed JT Morgans new owners to drag their feet over moving into the new city centre postage stamp development.
They've allowed any future retail expansion to hinge on Tesco moving out of their current premises.
They've targeted several buildings in high st, a pay and display in Oxford street and the sailbridge as areas of regeneration - what's happened there in terms of landmark regeneration.
Time for the regeneration ,planning and estates at Swansea to come clean.
Landmark regeneration is needed but the only investment I see is hair salons, flats and charity shops.
Surely some of the decision makers and high earners at our council should urgently address the depressing red brick monstrosity that is Swansea's St Davids centre.An ambitious retail makeover could fit well into this area of the city and could be completed in half the time.
Private partners should be engaged to fast track some landmark schemes at the mentioned sites. Swansea needs jobs and Swansea needs tourism.
Why haven't the council secured a private developer to build a landmark indoor ice
rink for the city centre/SA1 area.?
But then, just look at the Patti Pavilion ! So much hype it's no wonder our skyline looks more and more disjointed and unplanned by the minute.
As another couple of hotels get built at SA1 perhaps the partnerships involved in regenerating our city need to get a sense of urgency from the council. If we want people to visit Swansea we need a complete (not piecemeal ) regeneration of the city centre and some landmark schemes such as an ice rink and indoor arena to draw visitors into the city.”