Post by Kev on May 13, 2004 9:58:05 GMT -5
The exclusive fashion house has agreed to move in to the new Met Quarter shop-ping complex in Whitechapel.
Developers Milligan's say Armani will take over a 6,500sq ft store within the development which is expected to open in December 2005.
Milligan's chief executive John Milligan said the deal was agreed but not yet signed.
"Armani is an important deal for us. It's a flagship store for the Met Quarter and will front the Whitechapel side."
Mr Milligan said that retailers were now queuing up to take over space on the old Post Office site.
He said that with deals either already signed or including active negotiations with retailers meant 44% of the space is already filled.
Designer retailer Flannels has already committed itself to the scheme, taking a fifth of the three-storey centre.
Mr Milligan said: "It's marvellous for this stage in the letting process, given that there has been a lot of doubt over whether it would be happening when it was a joint venture."
The £70m scheme will regenerate the former post office, which is on the Stop the Rot hit list and has been described as a "carbuncle" in the centre of the city.
New pictures of the covered streets development were due to be unveiled tonight.
The main entrance will be off Whitechapel, and will be at a lower level than the frontage of the building on Victoria Street.
Shops on the second floor will be double height with a mezzanine level.
Work is expected to start in September, with the first phase including supporting the walls of the original post office building, laying new foundations, and pulling down the current rusty steel structure.
Mr Milligan said: "People have told us they do their day to day shopping in Liverpool, but for special things that cost a little bit more, they can't find enough choice.
"People tell us they want to shop in their own city."
Good news from the echo
Developers Milligan's say Armani will take over a 6,500sq ft store within the development which is expected to open in December 2005.
Milligan's chief executive John Milligan said the deal was agreed but not yet signed.
"Armani is an important deal for us. It's a flagship store for the Met Quarter and will front the Whitechapel side."
Mr Milligan said that retailers were now queuing up to take over space on the old Post Office site.
He said that with deals either already signed or including active negotiations with retailers meant 44% of the space is already filled.
Designer retailer Flannels has already committed itself to the scheme, taking a fifth of the three-storey centre.
Mr Milligan said: "It's marvellous for this stage in the letting process, given that there has been a lot of doubt over whether it would be happening when it was a joint venture."
The £70m scheme will regenerate the former post office, which is on the Stop the Rot hit list and has been described as a "carbuncle" in the centre of the city.
New pictures of the covered streets development were due to be unveiled tonight.
The main entrance will be off Whitechapel, and will be at a lower level than the frontage of the building on Victoria Street.
Shops on the second floor will be double height with a mezzanine level.
Work is expected to start in September, with the first phase including supporting the walls of the original post office building, laying new foundations, and pulling down the current rusty steel structure.
Mr Milligan said: "People have told us they do their day to day shopping in Liverpool, but for special things that cost a little bit more, they can't find enough choice.
"People tell us they want to shop in their own city."
Good news from the echo
