A vintage fashion store is the latest retailer confirmed to open in Nottingham’s Bridlesmith Gate. The city centre location will become home to Newcastle founded business Garms.
Garms, which has stores in Newcastle and Durham along with an online and wholesale business, agreed terms to set up shop in the building formerly occupied by shoe retailer, Office. It has taken a long term lease on the premises, according to developer Arran Bailey.
The unit is the last remaining vacant property owned by the developer in Bridlesmith Gate. Arran Bailey, who is managing director of ALB Group, bought 11 properties in late 2021 with a view to turning the area into Nottingham’s version of Carnaby Street. Units have been taken by international hairdressing firm Menspire, Fashion retailer Stick and Ribbon, Sneakervers, craft coffee shop BARiSTA and estate agents Pygott & Crone.
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Following the demise of the Broadmarsh Centre as well as the reduced footfall due to the pandemic, the area lost some of its high profile retailers. Mr Bailey said: “Being from Nottingham, it gave me little joy to see a street like Bridlesmith Gate struggle like many other high streets have done recently. So, with a bit of out-of-the-box thinking, we made it our mission to turn its fortunes around.
"We had ambition and vision and, with determination and hard work, we have succeeded in putting all the pieces together pretty rapidly". He added: “We couldn’t be happier with how our vision has turned out. The arrival of Garms is the cherry on top of the cake.”
Arran and his team, which includes Nottingham-based Box Property Consultants, commissioned artists to liven up the street with vibrant street murals.
Frankie Labbate, director of Box Property Consultants, said he was delighted to have helped to complete the deal with the proprietors of Garms. “Nottingham is a very popular vintage fashion city, so Garms will fit in extremely well. When the owners were searching for new retail space, they really liked Bridlesmith Gate because of what Arran had achieved – and they loved the street art and vibrant atmosphere.
“It’s a very positive result off the back of lots of innovation and hard work to have our final tenant on board – adding the final piece of the jigsaw. This part of Bridlesmith Gate had various vacant units when he acquired the units, but now it’s been repurposed and as a result revitalised with a new on trend independent mix of tenants and vibe.
“Arran has backed up the vision set out with significant capital investment in a timely but more importantly purposed manner and, with a combination of investment and a refreshing forward thinking approach to leasing the results are there for everyone to enjoy.”
Alongside the properties in Bridlesmith Gate, ALB Group has also purchased several other buildings in neighbouring Lister Gate and Low Pavement. Upmarket fragrance store Jo Malone, which occupies one of ALB’s units in Low Pavement, has recently agreed to extend its lease for five years.
Nottinghamshire Live is waiting for confirmation about when Garms will open the store for business.
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