'Kendals is really good these days - but it feels like everyone's forgotten it exists'
I'm wandering around the shiny bright accessories hall inside Kendals - OK, technically House of Fraser - and wondering what bargains I might be able to snap up for myself. There are "20% off everything" discount posters hanging all around the store to lure shoppers in, so I'm expecting it to be busy.
I headed to the store last week after a couple of friends had also remarked about how few shoppers they'd seen on recent visits. One went on a busy Saturday afternoon in the city centre, a day you would expect all shops to be busy, and yet were stunned to see it quiet then too. Kendals staff memorably ripped down the "closing down" posters, and shoppers everywhere celebrated that their much-loved department store was saved.
Since lockdown, there have also been big changes inside this House of Fraser store. There has been the permanent mothballing of the top floor, although all of the retail departments have been condensed onto the remaining floors instead. There's even a cool new bar area for kids branded up now as "Dungeons and Dragons". It offers a load of treats that will get kids super-excited like slushies, crisps and sweeties.
My toasted brie and cranberry sandwich and slice of lemon cake were delicious - and my Nutella hot chocolate was also a bit different too. It was a world away from the sub-standard experience I had at John Lewis with a sandwich so dry I couldn't even eat it - and yet people queue out the door to dine in there.
It made me wonder what are the bigger issues for this House of Fraser store now in getting customers through the door, particularly given the big changes happening outside it on Deansgate? It did used to adjoin the store if you look up, but those two bridges have now been blocked off so you can no longer get through to Kendals. The car park itself is operated by Manchester City Council, and there are plans to demolish it as part of wider redevelopment of the King Street West area.
Is it not just encouraging shoppers to head to the Trafford Centre, with its acres of free parking spaces, instead? The council are committed to a city with less cars with their plans along Deansgate, but at what price is that to the businesses along it?
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