Zara expands in south coast

Zara is expanding in the country's south coast acquiring four new stores so far this year. In Brighton, the Spanish fashion retailer has acquired the former Mothercare unit, totalling 1584 sq m, at Churchill Square Shopping Centre, on a new 10-year lease. And in Southampton, unit MSU4, West Quay Shopping Centre, totalling 1,740 sq m, has been taken on a new 15-year lease.

In March this year, Zara opened its 1,604 sq m Bournemouth store on Commercial Road. The retailer has also acquired a new store at Drakes Circus in Plymouth, due to open on 5 October 2006. The Plymouth store totals 21,055 1,956 sq m over ground and mezzanine levels. Bershka, Zara's sister company, has taken the adjacent unit, with a similar layout, totalling 536 sq m.

David Harper of Harper Dennis Hobbs comment: "This is an important area to target and the result is one Zara store now open in Bournemouth, with Southampton and Plymouth currently fitting out and Brighton due to open in December."