Two floors of the Debenhams store in West Orchards have been re-let to new tenants, it can be revealed.
The much loved high street chain had its flagship store in Coventry’s West Orchards shopping centre, but closed along with all 118 remaining Debenhams stores at the start of the year.
The announcement was made by Coventry BID director Trish Willetts today (March 11) on BBC CWR’s afternoon show with Trish Adudu.
Speaking from inside West Orchards Shopping Centre, Trish Willetts said: “Two of the floors of Debenhams are re-let already.
“I’m delighted to tell you, it’s a great moment in time for changing the use and re-purposing stuff, just look at IKEA and the great piece of work that the council and partners the university and everyone has done for this year.”
Debenhams was bought in January for £55m by online retailer Boohoo as part of a rescue deal that will relaunch it as an online-only operation.
Looking forward to a night out in Coventry again?
To be first to hear when shops, pubs and restaurants open, sign up our newsletter here.
She didn’t say who the new tenants taking over Debenhams would be, and so they remain a mystery.
She also hinted that a big new brand is about to sign on the dotted line to replace the empty retail unit left in Cathedral Lanes by
MOD Pizza, which closed down during the pandemic.
While Ms Willetts couldn’t reveal who would be taking over the old MOD pizza unit, she did give some idea as to who it might be.
She told CWR: “The city will go crazy, whenever you say ‘what business would we like in this space?’ 99% of Coventry ask for this brand, this brand is on its way.”
She also said that Coventry city centre is going through a “re-birth” and that a number of new businesses have signed up to come to the city centre.
“There’s at least seven new businesses in legals, massive brands coming in and it’s great,” she said.
As reported by CoventryLive, West Orchards Shopping Centre was sold at auction for £4.85 million in February.
An unnamed London-based investor acquired the city centre attraction below the guide price of £5.5m when it went to auction.
The 219,503 sq ft site on Smithford Way was reportedly valued at £37m just eight years ago.
Keep up with all of the latest local news with our daily newsletter
