Topshop's flagship Oxford Street store up for sale

  • Published
Topshop on Oxford StreetImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

The 90,000 sq ft store is a familiar sight for commuters coming out of Oxford Circus Tube station

The building that houses Topshop's Oxford Street store is up for sale.

The High Street chain's owner Arcadia went into administration in November, putting 13,000 jobs at risk.

News of the sale of the three-storey building has prompted an outpouring of emotion on social media, with shoppers recounting how important the flagship store is to them.

The store, which boasted a DJ booth, nail bar and food stalls, was a retail sensation when it opened in 1994.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Huge crowds gathered at the store for the launch of Kate Moss's Topshop collection in 2014

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Arcadia - which owns Topshop, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins - entered administration on 30 November

The sale of 214 Oxford Street, managed by agents Savills and Eastdil, follows the failure of Sir Philip Green's retail empire to secure funding to pay its debts after sales slumped during the pandemic.

The Oxford Street building also houses Nike and Vans stores.

Arcadia said that although it was in administration, and so all its assets are to be sold, that did not mean the shops in the building would have to close.

People have been sharing their feelings about the London landmark, which was often used as a meeting point for friends and was a must-visit for fashion-loving tourists.

This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post by Carolin

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post by Carolin
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 2 by shon faye.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post 2 by shon faye.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 3 by Kelly Taylor

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post 3 by Kelly Taylor

Arcadia, which also owns Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Burton, had already closed other Topshop stores across the UK, citing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Its brands were struggling before the pandemic, partly due to competition from online-only fashion retailers such as Asos, Boohoo and Pretty Little Thing.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Beyonce launched her Ivy Park collection at Topshop in 2016

Image source, EPA
Image caption,

The flagship store is currently closed, in line with the rules about non-essential retailers

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

The Oxford Street store pictured during Pride in 2018