St Gemma's Hospice set to expand

The Merrion Centre has announced that St Gemma’s Hospice is set to expand its presence at the centre, relocating its existing charity shop to a significantly larger, new-look store this September.

The new 3,811 sq ft store will occupy a prominent location at the Merrion Centre’s main entrance from Merrion Street and will introduce a fresh, contemporary and colourful new format for the much-loved Leeds charity.

Offering an extensive selection of quality pre-loved fashion alongside homeware, children’s toys and more, the larger store will provide shoppers with even more opportunities to uncover unique finds while helping to raise vital funds for St Gemma’s Hospice.

The expansion follows the success of St Gemma’s original Merrion Centre store, which opened in October 2018. At the time, it represented the charity’s first shop within a shopping centre and has since established itself as a popular destination for the Merrion Centre’s diverse customer base.

St Gemma’s has 27 charity shops across Leeds and the surrounding area, with the Merrion Centre remaining its only Leeds city centre location. Its central position has made the store particularly popular with the city’s large student population, who are increasingly embracing pre-loved and more sustainable fashion while looking for individual pieces and great-value finds.

The relocation also reflects the Merrion Centre’s broad customer mix, which includes students, city centre workers, residents, families and visitors. The larger store will offer an accessible city centre destination where customers can shop more sustainably while supporting the important work of St Gemma’s Hospice.

Charles Newman, asset management director at Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), owners of the Merrion Centre, said: “St Gemma’s has become a much-loved part of the Merrion Centre since opening here in 2018, so we are delighted to support the charity with the next stage of its growth.

“The store appeals to the incredibly diverse mix of people who visit every day, from students and city centre workers to residents, families and visitors to Leeds. In particular, we know our student customers love discovering great pre-loved fashion, and being able to do that while supporting such an important local cause makes the offer even more compelling.

“The new store will give St Gemma’s a much larger and highly prominent space at our Merrion Street entrance and, following the success of its existing shop, it is fantastic to see the charity expanding its presence with us.”

Jane Kent, head of retail at St Gemma’s Hospice, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be expanding our presence at the Merrion Centre and introducing customers to our new-look store.

“Since opening in 2018, our Merrion Centre shop has built a fantastic following and demonstrated just how much appetite there is in the city centre for high-quality pre-loved shopping. The larger space will allow us to offer an even greater range in a bright, colourful and contemporary environment.

“Every purchase and donation to our shops helps support the care provided by St Gemma’s Hospice, so we’re looking forward to welcoming existing customers and a new generation of shoppers through our doors.”

The new St Gemma’s Hospice store is expected to open during the third week of September, perfectly timed to welcome the thousands of new and returning students arriving in Leeds for the start of the university year and Freshers period.