Closure followed by two new London site openings this year in Camden and Liverpool Street where BOXPARK aims to relocate its staff and tenants
New site openings include BOXPARK’s new social dining concept BOXHALL launching in London this Winter, followed by Bristol opening early next year
Today, BOXPARK addresses recent news in the public domain regarding the closure of its Shoreditch site this year. Whilst the Group is still in negotiations to extend occupancy of the site with landlords Bishopsgate Goodsyard, London Boroughs of Hackney and Tower Hamlets, and the Greater London Authority (GLA), BOXPARK confirms it is set to vacate the East London site by end of the summer 2024.
BOXPARK Shoreditch opened in October 2011 as a ‘meanwhile use’ scheme* at the Bishopsgate Goodsyard site which provided a platform for independent businesses to build their brand, create employment opportunities and catalyse the regeneration of Shoreditch.
The closure comes as BOXPARK gears up for two new site openings later this year in famous London locations; Camden Town and Liverpool Street, as well as making its debut in Bristol early next year, continuing the Group’s expansion efforts following the recent launch of BOXPARK Liverpool in April.
After being temporary occupiers of the site for 12 years, BOXPARK Shoreditch has reached the expiration of its lease and notice on the premises has been served by landlords Bishopsgate Goodsyard. This follows the immediate commencement of works for the development of the site, after planning permission was granted by the Mayor of London for the redevelopment of the Bishopsgate Goodsyard, which will see new homes, retail and leisure, office space and a new park built on the 4.5 hectare site.
BOXPARK has already informed its employees and tenants of the closure, providing reassurance about job security for its staff and stability for its tenants – most of whom are independent businesses – by offering to relocate them to its other sites.
Dubbed as ‘the world’s first pop-up mall’, BOXPARK Shoreditch has grown into one of London’s most beloved dining and shopping destinations, as well as being a cultural hotspot. The scheme played a fundamental role in the redevelopment of Shoreditch, bucking trend of High Street decline by driving more than 1.25million visitors per year to the local area.
Furthermore, the development has seen residencies from over 250 independent brands, and
supported more than 270 jobs per year, generating almost £100m economic value for the
City.
BOXPARK CEO Simon Champion comments: “Whilst our time in our current site at Shoreditch is coming to an end, we look forward to celebrating all that we have achieved at the venue over the summer before we go on to relaunch Buck Street Market in Camden and mark the launch of our first BOXHALL branded site in Liverpool Street this year.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the millions of customers, tenants, and partners we have welcomed and worked with over the last 12 years. As a result of their energy and vibrancy, BOXPARK Shoreditch has become synonymous with the rise of Shoreditch as the heart of London’s creative industries and we are happy that we have played a role in the wider regeneration of the area along with our track record in delivering jobs and training for local young people, which has delivered significant reductions in deprivation levels in our local community.
“With Shoreditch being our home for so many years, we hope to return as soon as we find the right opportunity. However, in the remaining time we have left in Shoreditch we will work as hard as possible to support our team with the transition and aim to relocate our 30+ tenants and their staff at our other sites, whilst giving all our wonderful customers an unforgettable farewell.”
BOXPARK’s track record in urban regeneration is well-established, with notable successes in each of its London locations (Shoreditch, Croydon and Wembley). Earlier this month, the Group announced it has assumed operational management of Camden’s shipping container food and retail complex, Buck Street Market. This will be the next iteration of BOXPARK to open following the closure of its Shoreditch outlet.
This year, the Group opened its first site outside of London with BOXPARK Liverpool (April 2024) seeing a spectacular launch and healthy post-launch trading. BOXPARK continues to grow its credentials for regeneration, economic impact and job creation, as it generated 150 new job opportunities and invested more than £5m into the Baltic Triangle, Liverpool’s creative and cultural district.
Founder of BOXPARK Roger Wade comments on the journey of BOXPARK Shoreditch: “Firstly, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Ballymore, Hammerson, Hackney, and Tower Hamlets for their support over the past 12 years at BOXPARK Shoreditch. Our journey has been unforgettable, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together.
“When we launched BOXPARK Shoreditch in October 2011, it was the world’s first pop-up mall. Since then, we created over 1,000 jobs, supported 100+ independent businesses and attracted over 10 million visitors. As we close this chapter, my gratitude also goes out to all the dedicated staff and local community for their unwavering support throughout the years.”
BOXPARK Shoreditch is set to close by the end of summer 2024. BOXPARK Croydon, Wembley and Liverpool continue to trade as normal. The Group has plans to open its debut sibling F&B brand BOXHALL in Liverpool Street later this year, relaunch Camden’s Buck Street Market in the coming months, and bring the BOXHALL concept to Bristol.
ABOUT BOXPARK
BOXPARK Shoreditch, originally coined ‘the world’s first pop up mall’, launched in 2011. Effortlessly fusing the concepts of the modern street food market and the pop-up retail mall, BOXPARK stands proudly in the heart of London’s Shoreditch to deliver a community of both independent and established brands specialising in fashion, arts, food and drinks.
BOXPARK Croydon opened in October 2016. It is the biggest food and culture outlet of its kind in London with over 30 street traders from around the world, both established and start-up, set in over 90 shipping containers.
BOXPARK Croydon has a large space, plus a dedicated community-led events programme that offers music nights, markets, fitness sessions and more.
BOXPARK Wembley – the sibling site to Croydon with a twist, opened in December 2018 and is the largest venue to date. Offering a diverse selection of street food traders and a year-round schedule of entertainment, BOXPARK Wembley provides the ultimate fan park area with a 20,000 square foot dedicated events space, boasting an immersive food, drink and leisure experience based on the BOXPARK philosophy of Eat. Drink. Play.
BOXPARK Liverpool – Marking the first site outside London, BOXPARK Liverpool launched in April 2024. Located in the Cains Brewery Village situated in the Baltic Triangle it joined the city’s cultural and creative hub. The fully integrated all-day dining and events space spans 21,000 sq. and features nine independent traders from the City and surrounding areas alongside a 5,500 sq. ft external terrace for al fresco dining and intimate events.
