Former Lewis's flagship in Liverpool to host retail once again

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Sep 20, 2017

A historic department store site is set to host retail shops once again with the former Lewis’s in Liverpool to be redeveloped as part of a new plan to create shops, leisure facilities and homes on Ranelagh street.

Property firm Augur Group will rebrand the location as Circus and will bring it “back to life”, its CEO said after acquiring the building and land next door earlier this year.

The store, which is a listed building, was built shortly after World War 2 but the original department store was built on the site in 1856 when David Lewis opened the first in what would become a chain of pioneering outlets.

As UK retail saw department store chains chains merging or closing, the giant store finally closed in 2010 and the building has housed a hotel, gym and NHS offices in the seven years since then.

The developer said that the historic Liverpool Resurgent bronze panels and statue by Sir Jacob Epstein will be retained as part of the redevelopment.

The store is next to Liverpool Central station, which is one of the UK’s business stations and should guarantee a large footfall catchment for the new retail stores. It’s unknown when the development will be completed.