Two of the UK’s leading retail destinations, atria Watford and Lakeside Shopping Centre, owned by SGS Group, will soon be home to larger, upgraded JD retail stores as the brand continues its commitment to delivering world-class shopping experiences in key shopping centre locations.
At atria Watford, JD will be doubling its retail footprint to an impressive 13,500sq ft, offering a broader range of products in a larger, upgraded store. Set to open next year, the newly expanded store will feature an enhanced selection of the finest sports and fashion brands, combining some of the UK’s most well-known labels with JD’s exclusive own brand offerings. A temporary store has opened in the Upper Mall, next to Sketchers while the new store is under development, ensuring an uninterrupted shopping experience during this time.
Lakeside Shopping Centre are also consolidating two smaller stores, sizing at 5,000sq ft and 10,000sq ft respectively, into a single flagship store spanning 33,000sq ft on the Central Lower Mall. This expansion comes as part of a larger reconfiguration of the space, including areas of the former M&S unit, which successfully relocated to the former Debenhams unit in November 2023. The new store will open next year, offering an improved shopping environment, showcasing an even wider range of products and reinforcing JD’s commitment to growth in key retail destinations.
These relocations and large-scale expansions are a testament to the strong partnership SGS Group has forged with JD. These openings align with SGS’s vision of enhancing the shopping experience in their centres even further by improving its retail offer through its ongoing partnerships with top tier brands. These new JD stores will help to drive increased footfall, offering customers access to top sportswear brands and strengthening the appeal of these premier retail destinations.
James Air, Director of Group Acquisitions at JD, comments: “We are delighted to be expanding in both atria Watford and Lakeside – two key retail destinations in the UK. We are continuously looking at ways we can improve our offer and both stores have performed exceptionally well year on year. This decision to upgrade is integral for the continued success of these locations.”
