Rich and famous flock to the MetLIVERPOOL celebrated the first weekend of its revival as a major shopping
destination by welcoming more than 50,000 shoppers to the new Metquarter.
The designer shopping centre received the seal of approval from the city's
rich and famous, with dedicated shoppers such as Coleen McLoughlin and
Alex Curran. The two soon-to-be footballers' wives were pictured by the
paparazzi among throngs of customers at the mall on Whitechapel.
Since its opening on Thursday, when a staggering 20,000 people passed
through the doors, the success of the Metquarter has continued to overwhelm
retailers and centre managers. More than 18,000 visited the centre on
Friday and an estimated 32,000 over Saturday and Sunday, when snow would
have kept many people indoors. But the crowds are expected to be out in
force again this week when its flag-ship store Flannels opens today.
A spokesman for the centre, owned by developer Milligan, said: ‘We
were stag-gered by the number of people who came to the opening on Thursday.
‘We knew there would be a lot, but 20,000 surpassed even our expectations.
On the Friday, we saw 95% of the first day footfall and that is unprecedented,
it almost never happens. And then Saturday was busier still.’
‘We are really excited about the other shops opening this week
as we think people will just want to come back again and again. The response
has been amazing.’
After Flannels today, Hobbs and Hugo Boss will also be also be opening
their doors at the £75m shopping centre this week. In the next few
weeks, the Metquarter managers are expected to announce the big name brands
that will open in the remaining units at the centre next month.
The centre has already attracted prestigious labels such as Gieves &
Hawkes, exclusive jewellers Kinks of London and Armani X, whose only other
stand-alone shop is in London. Clothing label All Saints and make-up brand
Mac have opened their first stores in Liverpool in the centre. On Thursday,
retailers reported taking up to five times their expected targets.
Chief executive of franchising in the UK for Timberland, Michael Abrams,
said it was the best opening day he had ever seen in any city, and his
staff were frantically restocking.