BOSSES at the Bridges in Sunderland feel positive about the year ahead, as the retail centre continues to see growth in shopper numbers and pending.
Despite the problems caused by lockdowns when only essential retailers were open and the knock-on effect that has had on centres around the country, since restrictions were lifted the Bridges has seen a steady increase in visitor numbers and welcomed a range of new traders.
It recently welcomed the first bricks and mortar store from online retailer, The Fashion Bible, and celebrated the return of Ann Summers to Sunderland – indicating national brands have confidence in the city.
Meet and Eat, a new café, opened in the summer, along with book store, Great Reads, and phone repair shop, Galaxy Mobiles.
Bakery, Milligans, relocated from its previous base at the railway station – a move seen to secure the company’s presence in the city.
And 2021 also saw Vision Express upgrade its city centre store – another boost from a major high street brand.
Training provider, Uplift, will up residence in a unit at the Bridges, offering a range of training and coaching services.
The Fashion Bible new store in the Bridges shopping centre, Sunderland. Lisa Fox (Fashion Bible Director) with Karen Eve (Bridges Centre Director)
Centre director Karen Eve took up her new role in the midst of the pandemic and has managed the Bridges through two lockdowns.
She said: “I’m proud of the resilience we have shown in Sunderland to trade through a very difficult period.
“The city has also benefited from so many exciting new developments such as the new auditorium, the Culture House, the Holiday Inn and Mackies Corner to name but a few.
“All of this has helped instil confidence in Sunderland and what it has to offer.”
Karen also praised Sunderland BID “who worked day and night through the lockdowns to keep in touch with businesses.”
She said: “The BID led on the city’s Recovery Task Force which brought key partners together on a regular basis to come up with a recovery strategy and to ensure that all the important messaging was shared.
“We were one of the first cities in the country to have Covid marshals and were praised nationally for the initiative that Sunderland had shown.”
The Bridges also worked closely with the BID and police on Operation Kraken, an annual campaign to tackle crime and disorder.
“Working together on projects like this makes coming into the city centre in the run-up to Christmas a really positive experience and shoppers benefit from that feeling of safety,” added Karen.
Karen is hopeful that the new year will bring further exciting announcements about the centre.
“We are pulling out all the stops to continue to strengthen the offer at the Bridges,” she said.
“We have welcomed some brilliant brands over the past few months and we hope that will have more positive news to share as we head towards 2022.”
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