John Lewis Birmingham Grand Central is a 'step change' for retailer

• John Lewis’ first full-line shop since Westfield Stratford City
• Four-floor flagship includes market stall-style food offer
• Around 650 jobs created from opening of the store

The 250,000 sq ft, four-floor flagship is the department store group’s first full-line shop since it opened in Westfield Stratford City in 2011.

Standout in-store features include The Place to Eat, which has a market stall-style food offer, a library wall and views of central Birmingham. The shop also houses its new Loved & Found fashion department and the first John Lewis-branded spa, &Beauty.

Head of store design Kim Morris said the store was a “step change” and many elements that have informed the design of its smallest stores were “scaled up” to create the interior.

“We looked at almost everything we’ve done and asked ourselves how we could do it better,” said Morris.

John Lewis managing director Andy Street said: “Today sends a clear message that John Lewis is firmly committed to the British high street and that physical shops remain as important to us as they do to our customers.”  

He added: “Birmingham is a city which we have wanted to be a part of for many years and the New Street Station and Grand Central development offered us the perfect opportunity to make this a reality.”

The retailer said the shop has created 650 jobs “across Birmingham and the wider region” with around 10,000 job applications received.

Opening hours for the new shop are 9am-8pm Monday-Saturday and 11am-5pm Sunday with 10.30am-11am browsing time.