Outdoor clothing and equipment retailer Mountain Warehouse has opened its second branch in Norwich, located at 15-17 Haymarket. The 11,000sqft store is the brand’s second in the city, with the other located in nearby London Street. The Haymarket unit had been vacant for over two years following the closure of fashion brand Topshop in February 2021. The new store features menswear, womenswear, children’s clothing, footwear, and equipment. The mezzanine floor, previously occupied by Topman, has been removed. The store also stocks collections from the coastal lifestyle brand Animal.
Mountain Warehouse was founded by Mark Neale in Swindon in 1997 and now has over 340 stores worldwide. The opening of the Norwich store has created 18 new jobs in the local area. Neale expressed his excitement about the new store and his enthusiasm for sharing his passion for adventure and outdoor gear with the community. The store’s opening garnered a lot of interest, with customers flocking to take advantage of the 10% discount offered as an introductory offer. The store’s opening hours are 9am to 7pm on Saturdays and weekdays (except Thursdays, which has an 8pm closure) and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays.
The decision to open a Mountain Warehouse store in the Haymarket unit came after a deal with Morrisons fell through. Initially, Morrisons was expected to take on the large unit and sign a 15-year lease. However, in August of this year, the supermarket revealed that the deal had collapsed. Prior to Mountain Warehouse moving in, the shop front had been plastered with graffiti criticizing the building’s vacancy while people were homeless in the city. This caused a stir in the community, highlighting the need for solutions to the city’s homelessness issue.
Overall, the opening of the new Mountain Warehouse store in Norwich has brought excitement and employment opportunities to the city. The store offers a wide range of outdoor clothing and equipment for all ages, including collections from the coastal brand Animal. With a strong presence globally, Mountain Warehouse continues to grow its retail footprint and provide quality outdoor gear to adventurers worldwide.
