Pillar Property PLC - Mixed-Use Development - Edinburgh, Fort Kinnaird
Date: 08 Dec 2000
Two years after the opening of their Scottish flagship store in Glasgow, Borders (UK) Ltd announced today that they have completed negotiations for a 20,000 sq ft Borders Books Music Cafe store to open next Spring in Fort Kinnaird on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The largest outdoor shopping complex in the UK, Fort Kinnaird has been developed by Pillar Property PLC and offers over 570,000 sq ft of retail and leisure.
Fort Kinnaird will be Borders’ tenth superstore in the UK. It will be followed later in the Spring by Cambridge and Kingston-upon-Thames, giving the brand a total of 12 stores and over 350,000 sq ft of retail space by the middle of 2001 - less than three years after the first Borders Books Music Cafe store opened in Oxford Street, London on 1st August 1998.
In addition to being Borders’ second Scottish store, Fort Kinnaird will be the second out-of town site, following The Coliseum at Cheshire Oaks, which opened in March 2000.
Philip Downer, Managing Director of Borders Books Music Café, said: “Fort Kinnaird is a magnificent location and our experience at Cheshire Oaks demonstrates that Borders’ style of retailing is ideally suited to this type of development. The accessible, welcoming atmosphere makes Borders a particularly relaxing place for families, while our long opening hours complement cinema visits and other evening activities.”
Established tenants at Fort Kinnaird include Boots, Next, Dixons and UCI Cinemas, who have recently been joined by the largest Gap store in Scotland. Mark Stirling, Managing Director of Pillar Retail Parks, states: “We are delighted to announce the signing of Borders to complement the tenant line-up at Fort Kinnaird which will further enhance the location as a major shopping destination. Borders expands the options to shoppers which will extend dwell times further into the evenings. We anticipate the announcement of further key lettings very shortly.”
Borders are the only stores in the UK to sell a comprehensive selection of books, music CDs, videos and DVDs under one roof, plus the largest selection of magazines and newspapers in the country. Customers have responded enthusiastically to the wide choice, excellent value and enhanced entertainment programme, including a packed events schedule and trademark Borders Cafe. The Fort Kinnaird store will include all the hallmark features of the city centre Borders stores, with a licensed cafe on the mezzanine overlooking the spacious shop floor. In line with Borders’ policy, the majority of the 40-strong staff will be recruited locally, with the balance coming from internal company promotions.
One of the UK’s fastest growing retailers, Borders Books Music Cafe currently has nine superstores in the UK - in Brighton, Bournemouth, Cheshire Oaks, Glasgow, Leeds, Oxford, York and two in London. Stores currently in development include a 28,000 sq. ft store in the Charter Quay development at Kingston upon Thames, and a 40,000 sq. ft city centre store in Market Street, Cambridge.
Borders Books Music Cafe is one of the two trading brands of Borders (UK) Ltd, which also operates 31 Books etc, high street and airport bookshops. Borders (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of Borders Group, Inc., the leading global retailer of books, music and video. Reid Rose Gregory and Jones Lang Lassalle are retained agents for Borders in the UK. Eric Young & Co., Harvey Spack Field and Morgan Williams are retained agents for Pillar Property PLC.
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