Jobs go as two large stores close at Drake Circus shopping centre
PLYMOUTH'S multi-million pound shopping mall is to undergo a stores shake-up after two major retailers confirmed they are to close down.
The huge Zara fashion store in Drake Circus is to close with the loss of 26 jobs, as well as the Bershka fashion unit next door.
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Drake Circus Mall
But it is understood global computer giant Apple is set to move into the empty space, The Herald can reveal.
Staff at Zara were told they were being made redundant by senior managers, who turned up from London on Tuesday evening.
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Stunned workers said they were informed the double-floor unit will close in just two weeks time, on June 1, and that Apple would be taking over the 15-year lease.
Bershka, also owned by Zara's Spanish parent firm Inditex, is also to close, with the loss of about 10 jobs.
However, another shop is set to open in this unit too. It has not been named but is understood to be a famous name, not currently operating in the South West.
The shock shake-up comes as Zara announced record profits of £1.6billion, up 11 per cent, in March.
Staff in Plymouth said the city store was meeting its targets, but the store's lease had been for sale since 2009.
Workers said they were told Apple made Zara bosses "an offer they couldn't refuse".
However, all the stores involved in the shake-up are remaining tight-lipped.
And there was further bad news for Plymouth's high street last night when the administrators of Clinton Cards announced plans to close 350 stores.
Both of Plymouth's Birthdays stores are to close after the decision to close all of the chain's Birthday sites.
And uncertainty now hangs over Plymouth's three Clinton Cards sites – including its flagship store in Drake Circus – with the administrators last night stating they are planning to close "roughly" 200 Clintons-branded stores.
A Zara spokeswoman would only say Inditex managing director Dilip Patel had "no comment".
Apple did not respond to a request from The Herald for a comment as it went to press.
Drake Circus centre director Greg Lumley confirmed the closures of Zara and Bershka outlets and said: "We have already let the units to two retailers not currently represented in Plymouth."
He does not have a date for when those stores will open but stressed: "They will be opening when they have completed some structural work and done some shopfitting."
City centre manager Clint Jones said: "It's a shame that any store in the city centre is closing, but as far as I'm aware it's being actively let and there will be a tenant in soon."
The arrival of Apple in the huge 21,054sq ft unit may have implications for the mall's nearby Stormfront store, which sells Apple products. At the firm's head office a spokesman said: "We are in discussions with Apple."
Meanwhile, Zara and Bershka staff were today coming to terms with losing their jobs. Employees told The Herald they knew nothing of the plans until Mr Patel's visit, with other senior managers, on Tuesday.
They said they were told Zara (pictured above) was pulling out of Plymouth after Apple bought the lease, which still has nearly 10 years to run.
"Apple made an offer they can't refuse," one worker said. "There were lots of tears, but today it's tantrums. God knows what I'm going to do."
Another staff member added: "A lot of people have been here from the start, six years, and this store is like a family. It's devastating for everyone."
Comments
by Samtron
Thursday, August 02 2012, 1:43PM
“by crazypenguinThursday, May 17 2012, 10:36PM
"anneteak what planet are you on? for the price of an overpriced mac i could build or even buy a pc with twice or even 3 times the spec . your paying more for the little apple symbol thats all!"
Or you could have a Mac that will never be crippled by virus's or malware!
Why is Plymouth full of doommungers that feel the need to state that residents can't afford things. Take Manchester as an example. Two truely huge Apple shops, yet the bottom 10% of earners in Manchester earn the least of any city in Britain!!!”
by GraduatePlym
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 12:00AM
“An Apple Store in Plymouth is a great boost in adding value to the city with a staple premium store it will hopefully draw more premium stores to plymouth and aid in drawing more to the city over Exeter.
The store will receive the majority of its income (Like most stores in Drake's Circus) by students! It does not take an genius to read the evidence that plymouth's economy is based mostly in the hands of its students!
If only the entire city was reorganised to prevent the 'ghost-town' effect that is happening outside of Drakes Circus.
Albeit far-fetched and controversial : The best way forward for plymouth is to re-develop the city centre. My proposal to adapt Armada Way into a Dining/Bar area to attract people into the area in the evening and lunchtimes all the way along and then move shops from armada way into the surrounding streets of cornwall street and new george street! eventually re-building the area surrounding the Pannier Market with Accommodation ideally student accommodation to create a constant flow of pedestrian traffic throughout the city centre and boost the flagging lack of student accommodation in the city.”
by superwoman123
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 2:57PM
“yes a apple store in plymouth yes please”
by nubnub
Monday, May 21 2012, 7:07PM
“I have never used Apple Computor but I know they are much better.”
by colin99
Saturday, May 19 2012, 2:22PM
“Clearly the Stormfront store will not survive this, but my one brief experience of the shop was enough to ensure that I wouldn't return.
Of course we end up with a great Mac vs. Windows debate whenever Apple gets mentioned. So for my considered opinion, being an engineer who uses both systems; Macs are fine as toys but if you want to do anything productive you will probably select a WIndows machine for the range of hardware and software available, as well as a significantly more powerful file manager.”
by hstmtu4000
Friday, May 18 2012, 1:03AM
“Plymouth has always had huge potential but it has never really been realized because it is simply a "bridge too far" transport wise particularly so now in the 21st century and lets face it transport links will continue to remain its achilles heel for the foreseeable future unlike Exeter which is the official western limit of the Governments National Strategic Transport Network.Exeters excellent transport links have therefore naturally now made it the centre of a very wide and prosperous catchment area compared to Plymouth and that is where the big retailers really want to be.To quote Robert Noel ,chief executive of Land Securities,the countrys biggest listed property company "Dominant centres in the RIGHT LOCATIONS remain popular and a good mix of retail and leisure continues to attract visitors.In contrast,many locations have empty space which may never be reoccupied by retailers".Plymouth city centre seems to be slowly closing in on itself retailing wise with the Drake Circus shopping Mall set to become a retail "Alamo" or "Custers last stand" as it increasingly relies on its own cash strapped indigenous population."A tale of two cities" if ever there was one.”
by crazypenguin
Thursday, May 17 2012, 10:36PM
“anneteak what planet are you on? for the price of an overpriced mac i could build or even buy a pc with twice or even 3 times the spec . your paying more for the little apple symbol thats all!”
by PRDavid
Thursday, May 17 2012, 10:29PM
“@ali luya - Lakeland and Gap are in Exeter, the article states that the new store is not represented in the South West........ the plot thickens! Let's just hope it is a brand we can be proud of having, not something low end and cheap (wouldn't have thought so being next door to an Apple Store).
It's great that Apple are opening a proper store in Plymouth, albeit at the inevitable expense of Stormfront - let's hope their staff can move over to the Apple Store. However, losing Zara is a shame - it's a staple on any high street and should be included in Plymouth's retail offer by default. Surely there is an empty unit somewhere where they could move to. Nothing big enough or in the right place I guess.”
by AnneTeak
Thursday, May 17 2012, 9:33PM
“After using an Apple Mac computer, Microsoft Windows PCs appear bloated, prehistoric and tardy. In a different league.”
by ali luya
Thursday, May 17 2012, 8:44PM
“As someone who has just had to close my own small Plymouth based retail business ( totally down to airport closure) I sympathise with the staff of the shops that are closing. I am a big fan of apple but have bought all my apple kit from stormfront and not overjoyed at the thought of them closing ( apple will not tolerate a distributer in the same mall). The second retailer ( possibly Gap or Lakeland i am guessing) is positive news but for goodness sake, let's get John Lewis here. I can assure you that Plymouth is being judged at the moment. Exeter was described at a recent national business conference as having the ' Ex - factor' and was promoted as the place to be in the south west. Plymouth was not even mentioned. The only way to up our game is improved transport links and a pride in the city which is missing. I have said it so many times on this forum...Plymouth is a great place to live. Let's stop this self destruction.”