Shoemaker steps back to The Grand

Hortons’ Estate Ltd has signed up the first retail tenant at the newly restored The Grand on Colmore Row in Birmingham.

Shoemaker Crockett & Jones is moving back to its former store on the ground floor of the building having agreed a new ten-year lease.

Crockett & Jones opened its first shop outside London at The Grand in 2006. The 958 sq ft store forms part of the Grade II* listed building and is mentioned in the listing particulars.

The shop closed earlier this year as part of the multi-million pound restoration of the shops, offices and hotel at The Grand.

While the work was being carried out, Crockett & Jones opened a pop-up shop in Hortons Burlington Arcade, which will be retained when the store on Colmore Row re-opens in the New Year.

Founded in 1879 in Northampton by Sir James Crockett and Charles Jones, Crockett & Jones specialise in the manufacture of high quality footwear. The company continues to be managed by members of the Jones family.

Jonathan Jones, son of Richard Jones, grandson of co-founder Charles Jones, is the current managing director. He said: “The Grand is a fantastic historic building in the heart of Birmingham’s business district .

“It was and still is the preferred location for our Birmingham store and we are eagerly anticipating the completion of the works to the retail units so we can re-open as soon as possible in the New Year.”

The restoration of the Grade II* listed The Grand started in 2012. Hortons’ Estate has invested £14 million in the project to date, which includes the restoration of the facades, installation of a new roof and remodeling of the shops and offices.

The family-owned property company has just received £6 million of grant support from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and Birmingham City Council towards the cost of the interior works of The Grand Hotel.

Tony Green, chief executive of Hortons, said:

As our longest serving retail tenant at The Grand, we are really pleased that Crockett & Jones will be returning to its original unit.

We are confident that having an established company and distinguished brand such as Crockett & Jones as the first tenant will help us secure further lettings at The Grand.

Bar and restaurant Primitivo, on Barwick Street, which also closed earlier this year due to the restoration of The Grand, has agreed a new lease with Hortons and will re-open in 2016.