ALTHOUGH the store opened its doors in early December, the new Patagonia Manchester store is having its grand opening party on February 1st to allow customers to explore the new space, meet the team and celebrate with live music, drinks and other activities.
The 307sq m store at 51 King Street is a hub for sports and environmental communities in the area, with a space dedicated to events, film screenings and public talks. The three-floor store carries apparel for outdoor sports including climbing, skiing, snowboarding, trail running, surfing and fly fishing.
The California-based outdoor brand was founded in 1973 and continues to bedriven by its mission statement: Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. Still independently owned today and a certified B Corporation, the company is recognised internationally for its commitment to product quality and environmental activism, contributing over $89 million in grants and in-kind donations to date through its 1% For The Planet membership.
Ryan Gellert, General Manager, EMEA, Patagonia, says: “Patagonia has an unwavering focus on positively impacting the communities we support, both through our commitment to product quality and environmental activism. The Manchester store is an important step forward for this objective in the UK, as we continue to deepen our direct relationships with these communities.”
As with all Patagonia locations, the King Street site was chosen due to its historic nature and work has been done to preserve the integrity of the building, honouring its surrounding history and culture and for its proximity to the wide range of outdoor sports opportunities offered by the Peak District and surrounding areas.
Here’s some interesting facts about the new Manchester store:
- The cash desk is based on a traditional bar counter design, with ability to make coffee on one side and overhead blackboard.
- Throughout the store, every piece of wood used is locally reclaimed – some came from the old McVitie’s biscuit factory in Manchester. All the lights (except spots) are reclaimed from factories in the Manchester and Oldham area.
- The wall mural – a map of outdoor opportunities in the beautiful areas surrounding Manchester (including the Peaks and Lake District), designed by Matthew Bridge, with tiles reclaimed from Burscough police station in Ormskirk
