Another addition to the ‘general store’ group is coming to Deansgate Square this summer
Store Retail Group will be opening Deansgate Square General Store to bring an award-winning, independent retail experience to the heart of the community.
One of Manchester’s most premium developments has announced the first in a line of commercial openings set for this summer.
Store Retail Group – the company behind the General Stores and Foodhall concepts, with an already large and loyal fan base of its innovative take on the neighbourhood shop at stores in Ancoats, Stretford and Sale – will be the first commercial partner to open its doors at the flagship Deansgate Square development, found at the southern end of Deansgate, and by working in partnership with landlord and developer Renaker, Store Retail Group will be opening Deansgate Square General Store to bring an award-winning, independent retail experience to the heart of the community.
As part of the development – which comprises of four towers, including the tallest residential building outside of London – Manchester-based Renaker has created the city’s only riverside square, which is surrounded by each of the new sites, all boasting floor-to-ceiling glass windows and outdoor seating areas.
Store Retail Group will take over a 4,500 sq ft space located on the turning circle adjacent to the impressive lobby space.
This is set to service over 3,000 residents, with hotel-style concierge and amenities.
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(1/3) We are pleased to announce our first commercial operator, the Deansgate Square General Store – a modern take on the classic local shop from @generalstores_. pic.twitter.com/pV9dR4bqEH
Part corner shop, part community hub, Deansgate Square General Store will combine all the very best aspects of the group’s other sites and will supply artisan coffee to takeaway, a fresh flower concept, and an ever-changing street food vendor on site too, alongside household essentials, bringing much more than just a shop to this exciting new community.
The interior – which has been designed by local studio YOUTH – will celebrate and highlight General Store’s innovative approach to retail.
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Bringing together a grocery store, coffee shop and bar, the new Deansgate location has been designed with “community, creativity and cultural purpose” in mind.
“Deansgate Square felt right for us straight away.” Mital Morar – MD of Store Retail Group – said.
“The number of residents on site makes sound commercial sense for us, as well as the opportunity to work in a close-knit community, as we do at Ancoats [so] we’re excited to be part of a new thriving neighbourhood, and to expand our presence in the city centre.
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“As a destination that will continue to evolve, we see Deansgate Square as a great, long-term investment”.
Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Renaker – in collaboration with retail agency Barker Proudlove – has worked hard to bring both a new commercial offering and public open space to residents and the wider city centre community, with each operator having been carefully selected to ensure they are local independents with a strong track record and foot print in the city.
“Deansgate Square represents the first scheme to be delivered within the wider Great Jackson Street Masterplan.” James Sidlow – Senior Development Manager at Renaker – added.
“A key component in the success of this will be the diverse and engaging offering at ground level, carefully aligned to the requirements of the residents, locals and visitors to the city alike, creating an entirely new destination.
“We are delighted to announce news of these agreements [as] we’ve long admired how General Store create beating hearts at the centre of their neighbourhoods [and] we hope they, along with the host of other well-loved Manchester brands still to be announced, will bring all this and more to Deansgate Square”.
Some news to share! Good day for it too ☀️
Whilst we gear up to open in MediaCity imminently, contractors are about to descend on our next General Store.
You can find more information ahead of the opening of Deansgate Square General Store via the General Stores website here, and the Deansgate Square website.
Business
New ‘immersive’ cat cafe, pet lifestyle shop, and groomers to open in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A new one-stop pet lifestyle shop, grooming parlour, and ‘immersive’ cat cafe is set to open in Manchester city centre.
Set to open this autumn down at popular co-living development Square Gardens, LollipawsClub will offer a wide range of services including professional grooming and styling, a pet bakery, and an immersive cat cafe experience, as well as offering a range of pet products including cat and dog food, freeze-dried treats, and lots of toys.
LollipawsClub’s imminent arrival is said to mark a ‘key milestone’ for Square Gardens and the wider First Street community as a whole, as it completes the ground-floor retail offering, with all six commercial units now let.
Developers want Square Gardens to be a neighbourhood hub blending independent food and drink, with everyday essentials and specialist services.
A new ‘immersive’ cat cafe, pet lifestyle shop, and groomers is opening in Manchester later this year / Credit: Supplied
LollipawsClub will join the likes of Asda Express, and East Asian supermarket and restaurant, Seol & Tokyo, an alongside Thai-Chinese restaurant, Yaowarat, and new coffee shop, Ty Blawd – both of which are due to open this summer.
CGIs of what the new pet lifestyle store an cafe will look like when it opens have been revealed.
“We are thrilled to be joining the Square Gardens community this autumn,” commented Ruby Zhou, who is the Founder of LollipawsClub.
LollipawsClub is set to open this autumn down at Square Gardens, / Credit: Supplied | Mateusz Sobczak
“We regularly host engaging, pet-focused events and would be delighted for you to join us. Through everything we do, we aim to create an enjoyable and distinctive experience, making life with pets more comfortable, easy, and joyful.”
John Clegg, who is Head of Property Management at Downing – the developers of Square Gardens – added: “LollipawsClub completes the commercial lineup at Square Gardens, and from the outset, our ambition was to create a neighbourhood with its own identity, somewhere residents and the wider community actively choose to spend time.
“It’s exciting to see the retail offer now fully established alongside a thriving residential community.”
LollipawsClub will open at Square Gardens this autumn, so keep your eyes peeled for more updates and launch details.
Featured Image – Supplied
Business
First-ever JD Wetherspoon pub to open at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
In news that we feel many Mancs and travellers all-round have been waiting on for a long time, the well-known British chain, JD Wetherspoon, will be opening its first-ever pub at Manchester Airport.
That’s right: soon that first airport pint of the holiday could actually be a relatively cheap one.
While Wetherspoons are no strangers to popping up in terminals across the UK and Ireland, they’ve never done so here in Manchester despite having three, yes THREE, in Gatwick alone.
Not for much longer, though, as soon T2 will be lending more than 3,000 square feet of its prime leisure and retail real estate to a new Greater Manchester ‘Spoons’.
Posting on social media, the airport wrote: “Wetherspoon comes to Manchester Airport this September! The pub will be located in the Terminal 2 Departures lounge and will have more than 300 seats.
“This will become the final major food and drink venue to open its doors as part of our decade-long £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2. It will be named ‘The Belle Vue’, in a nod to Manchester’s historic showground [now a sports complex and leisure hub].
“It was a focal point for social life in the city from the Victorian period up until 2020, when the final event was held at Belle Vue stadium. The design of the pub is inspired by the history of Belle Vue and the sporting culture of the North West of England. We look forward to welcoming you all in September!”
While a lot of money has been pumped into T2’s refurb as a whole over the past few years, it remains unclear just how much this particular new addition will cost; we do know that great sums were set aside for the launch of the Great Northern Market last year.
The inaugural Manchester Airport Spoons is just the latest in a series of major renovations.
As mentioned, the company already operate several up and down the country – 10 airport pubs, to be specific – but this will be the first in the North West.
Speaking on the news, JD Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson said in a statement: “We are looking forward to opening at Manchester Airport. We believe our new pub will prove popular with travellers of all ages and be an asset to the new terminal.”
With Manchester Airport adding a dozen new routes to its roster this summer, you can expect to see even more people flying in and out than ever – no doubt having already polished off a cut-price pint or two beforehand.
Emily Sergeant -
31st March 2021 
