The highly-anticipated new Zara flagship store opened its doors on Wednesday for the first time after being closed for refurbishment for several months, but long queues and low stock left some fashion fans disappointed.
Demand was so high for Zara’s looks that some shoppers reported the store was a sell-out when they arrived to have a look around.
Zara reopened at 9am and was surrounded by a crowd of excited shoppers, waiting for the shutters to finally open again and get their hands on some of its new A/W pieces which filled the store.
However, the fully stocked shop did not last for long, with the shelves being emptied on the opening day.
Rachel, a sales assistant at H&M in the Metrocentre, visited Zara yesterday and said: “I think the shop was very nicely laid out and decorated well, however, there was not much stock left as I went around 5pm, so they mainly only had one size of each item left.”
“The queues were very very long which made me not want to buy anything as I would have had to wait so long.”
It appears that the opening of Zara was very popular for North East shoppers, but the store may not have expected such a well-received response with such little stock left following the first day.
The store’s space has been extended to 42,000 square feet – over double its original size – with womenswear, menswear, and a kids’ department.
This is the first of multiple new stores and refurbishments in the Metrocentre, including Sports Direct, Flying Tiger, and Flannels.
The shop boasts a modern, spacey interior with neutral colours, offering a much calmer shopping experience than the previous smaller layout.
If you have ever been in awe of Kim Kardashian’s house, you will definitely love Zara’s updated look, both giving the same minimalist vibes with stone walls and light wood furnishings.
Another addition to mention has to be the new self-checkouts!
Anyone who has been to Zara knows how long the queues can get, so this is very hopeful for a more positive, quick trip to Zara once the initial busyness has decreased.
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Ben Cox of Sovereign Centros, Senior Asset Manager for Metrocentre, said: “As the only Zara store in the region it has been amazing to see the reaction from our shoppers for the return of this much-loved brand.”
“To be the location of choice within the North East for another retail giant further reinforces Metrocentre’s position as the dominant trading location in the North East.”
He added: “The Zara opening comes at an exciting time for the centre and marks the first in a series of new additions set to open in November.”
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Have you been to the new Zara flagship store? If so, let us know your thoughts @fashion_north.
