Address: Unit C, Vangarde Shopping Park, York, YO32 9GX
Description
This modern ghost sign shows faint marks of the massive metal letters spelling out ‘JOHN LEWIS’.
History
The Vanguard Shopping Centre, located to the north of York, opened in 2014 and marked the arrival of John Lewis in the city.
The £15 million investment created 300 jobs and attracted other major retailers like Marks & Spencer and Next.
2013 – John Lewis under construction
Originally, retail parks served as out-of-town locations for large-format retailers unsuitable for pedestrianised high streets, like garden centres and home stores.
More recently, many high street retailers have moved to retail parks due to cheaper rents and parking for customers.
For instance, Marks & Spencer and Next have closed or downsized many high street stores and relocated to retail parks.
In York, this shift is exemplified by the Monks Cross development, where Go Outdoors is closing its city-centre location on Foss Islands and moving to the retail park where John Lewis once stood.
2014 – Opening day of John Lewis
There are over 1,500 retail parks across the UK. These parks typically feature large car parks and are designed for direct shopping trips rather than casual browsing.
This setup has left them facing economic competition from online retail, as they don’t offer the same experiential factor as town centre shops.
Consequently, vacancy rates in shopping centres in the UK are nearly double those of retail parks. As more city-centre shops in York close, we may see a further increase in large retail park developments.
John Lewis closed its doors in March 2021 after seven years, after which the sign was removed from the building.
In 2024, the premises will be taken over by Go Outdoors, continuing the trend of retailers shifting from the city centre to retail parks.
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