New stores helping Cardiff arcades buck retail trends.
Posted on in Business News
Eleven new businesses that have opened in the last year in the historic arcades of Cardiff city centre’s Morgan Quarter, made up of the Morgan and Royal arcades, have helped the arcades buck the retail trend.
Image - facebook.com/MorganQuarter
So far, in 2024, popular doughnut shop, Whocult and independent café Maple & Bean, have become the latest additions to the Morgan Quarter with UK-wide restaurant, Coppa Club, soon to join them.
The openings of these businesses along with the likes of Lucy & Yak, Astrid & Miyu and Beyond Retro has led to a steep increase in footfall – going against the national retail trend.
A recent study, by the Welsh Retail Consortium, found Wales to have seen the biggest decline of retail footfall of any nation in the UK with shopping numbers declining 8% on a year earlier and 4% compared to January.
Despite these numbers, the Morgan Quarter is bucking the national trend when it comes to retail footfall statistics.
In March, the Morgan Quarter observed a 62% increase in footfall compared to the previous year – with the first week of the month seeing over 100,000 visitors across the two arcades.
The familiar shopping destination for Cardiff residents and visitors is currently at 97% capacity, with 61/63 units being filled.
The ongoing success of these two arcades can be credited to the range of independent shops and larger brands all available under one roof.
Marika Jones, centre manager at Morgan Quarter said, “We are delighted to see a wide range of stores choosing to open in the Morgan Quarter.
“There is a distinct sense of community among the businesses here. Everyone wishes success on each other to encourage people into these special arcades.”
The Morgan Quarter is open seven days a week between 8am-6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday.
For more information go to morganquarter.co.uk