The retail gridiron is about to get a whole lot more electric in Glasgow's city centre, with John Lewis announcing a £20m shot in the arm for its flagship store within the iconic Buchanan Galleries mall. The department store chain, with its proud 161-year history as an employee-owned champion, is set to unleash a transformative facelift across all 28,000 sq metres of its Glasgow outpost.
This revamp is part of John Lewis's £50m UK-wide investment plan, aimed at refreshing its entire fleet of 36 stores by 2029. But make no mistake – the Glasgow project is the main event. Every corner of this behemoth store will get a makeover, including a brand-new John Lewis Platter cafe-restaurant that'll be the go-to destination for in-store dining. Fashion fans will also rejoice as more women's and men's labels join the fold.
And here's the best part: despite the massive overhaul, shoppers won't need to sit on the sidelines – the store will remain open throughout, with the refurbishment expected to finish early next year. The lower ground floor will be the first to get a new lease of life, followed by a tech and sports zone that'll be up and running by late September.
John Lewis is throwing down the gauntlet in a bid to reclaim its place as the high street heavyweight it once was, following the collapse of rivals like Debenhams and Beales. In fact, its own department store sales have been on an upward curve – increasing 3% to £4.9bn in the year to January 31st, with underlying profits up a whopping 29% to £58m.
The Buchanan Galleries itself is also getting a revamp, after its owner LandSec won planning permission for a major overhaul last year. The renovation will bring new leisure and dining options, including a mouth-watering food hall, as well as bigger retail spaces on Buchanan Street. Glasgow, get ready to shine – John Lewis is about to give you a store that's truly fit for a champion!