NEW STORES SET FOR ST DAVID’S DEBUT

Extract:

Five new names are set to open in St David’s by the end of February. The four shops and one restaurant will join an already impressive line up at Wales’ biggest shopping destination.

Article:

Five new names are set to open in St David’s by the end of February. The four shops and one restaurant will join an already impressive line up at Wales’ biggest shopping destination.

BOOF grill and rotisserie is an exciting new café-restaurant concept set to join the mix of eateries within Eastside - St David’s restaurant quarter. The independent outlet will be found in Lower Eastside and joins Pret a Manger, Yo! Sushi, Chimichangas, Café Rouge, Nandos and Pizza Express which are already open in Eastside as well as the likes of TGI Fridays and Bellini’s Express which is due to open this Spring.

BOOF will be run by the owners of Le Gallois in Canton, Cardiff, and Garcon, in Cardiff Bay, offering fast food with a French twist. Among its menu will be Steak Minute, rotisserie chicken and Toulousse sausuage to eat in or take away. The restaurant will also have a license and will serve wine, Champagne and cocktails.

Co-owner Francis Dupuy said: “BOOF is the phonetic spelling of the French word for ‘grub’ so it is a simple and fun concept.

“We wanted to bring French fast food to Cardiff and prove that it can be done. St David’s is pulling in a lot of people, it’s a big magnet which has injected a revival in the city centre. It is where it is happening and was the best location for the restaurant. We are aiming to open towards the end of February and hopefully it will be the first of many BOOFs.”

Fashion retailer Lambretta is set to open in Grand Arcade and Formula One store Wheels of Sport opens in St David’s Walk within St David’s in the next month. The Cardiff Lambretta store is one of only two stand-alone stores in the UK and will feature new in-store branding and one-off graphics.

On The Hayes, top designer brand Reiss is currently shop fitting ready for opening in mid-February, while on the first floor of Grand Arcade, childrenswear retailer Mothercare is set to make a return to the Welsh capital. After a year absence from St David’s, Mothercare is now set to showcase a new store format when it opens in early February.

Steven Madeley, centre director for St David’s, said: “St David’s is continuing to grow in stature as we welcome millions of visitors, trade successfully and open new stores throughout the spring.

“Since the launch of St David’s in October, we have already opened more than 80 stores and these additional five outlets only serve to enhance the fantastic variety already on offer.

“In the years leading up to opening, we promised that St David’s would put Cardiff on the retail map and would be an enviable shopping destination in the UK. Cardiff has already propelled up to the top six UK shopping cities and we hope that all our shoppers can see for themselves the part that St David’s has played in the transformation of the city.

“These openings are the first wave of openings this year with a number of other new names preparing their stores behind the scenes within St David’s. We look forward to being able to announce their opening dates in the next few months.”

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