Boxpark
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Boxpark is a food and retail park made out of refitted shipping containers in Britain.[1] It was founded by Roger Wade, who described it as the "world's first pop-up mall".[1] The first Boxpark was launched in Shoreditch in 2011, another was built in Croydon next to East Croydon station in 2016, and a third opened in Wembley in late 2018.[2]
Origin
[edit]According to its founder Roger Wade, who started out with the street fashion shop and label Boxfresh,[3] the idea for a shopping centre made out of shipping containers has its origin in 1999, while he was attending German trade shows with Boxfresh. For each show, he would need to build a mini shop that would then be demolished, and he wondered if he could build a trade show stand in a container that could be reused. He said: "That was the beginning of my fascination, in 1999. Years later a friend was running retail developments, so some time in 2008-09 I wondered 'why not build a whole retail development out of containers?"[1]
The first Boxpark was built in 2011 and was described "the world's first pop up mall".[4] However, by then shipping containers had already been used as pop-up shops, office and retail spaces around the world, for example the portable Puma City shop in US cities,[5][6] and the Dordoy Bazaar in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.[7] The company has plans to expand to other countries; however, a retail park also called Boxpark that opened in Dubai is not part of this company.[8]
Boxpark Shoreditch
[edit]The first temporary shopping centre, backed by Charles Dunstone of Carphone Warehouse, was built at Bethnal Green Road on part of the former Bishopsgate goods yard in Shoreditch.[9] Boxpark opened in December 2011,[10] initially made out of 60 recycled shipping containers over two floors, with 40 in the lower floor, 20 in the upper floor.[4][11] Originally intended to open for five years, the centre is still operating. Boxpark Shoreditch has 19 restaurants and bars and 27 shops.[1]
The Boxpark at Shoreditch was redeveloped in 2017, with the upper deck becoming the focus for street food at the venue.[2] In July 2024, it was announced that it would close down by the end of summer to make way for The Goodsyard development.[12] In response to the announcement, The Night Time Industries Association started a campaign to save the site from closure, arguing that it has launched hundreds of new independent businesses and annually contributes more than £80 million to the local economy.[13]
Boxpark Croydon
[edit]On 20 March 2015, it was announced that a second Boxpark would be built in Croydon to coincide with the regeneration project Croydon Vision 2020.[14] The centre was built with a £3 million loan from the Croydon Council and intended to be a temporary structure that would last for five years, until homes and offices could be developed on the site.[15][16] The scheme was designed by BDP, and the two-storey structure is constructed out of 96 shipping containers.[17] It is in the form of a semi-enclosed market hall with units arranged around it, and provides 24,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant space, double that of Shoreditch.[14] The Boxpark in Croydon has a covered seating area, as it was found that trade dropped off during the winter months in Shoreditch when it was exposed to the elements.[16] Boxpark Croydon has 36 shop units and is focused on dining and drink outlets.[18] It opened in October 2016.[19] It also hosts events such as music performances, kickboxing and screenings of films and football matches.[20][21][22] The resident DJ of the Croydon is DJ Jay Knox.[23]
Boxpark Wembley
[edit]A third Boxpark opened near Wembley Stadium in December 2018.[24][25] Boxpark Wembley is the largest one yet, covering a floor area of 50,000 sq ft, with a 2,000-person capacity events space.[26] Boxpark Wembley has 30 units, and 24 food and drink retail outlets have opened at the venue. As with Boxpark Croydon, the open hall/events space may be used for events such as music performances and screenings.[27][28] It is regularly used as a fan zone for those attending football matches, concerts and other events held at Wembley.[29][30][31]
Boxpark Liverpool
[edit]The first Boxpark outside London opened in the Baltic Triangle area of Liverpool on 19 April 2024.[32]
See also
[edit]- Re:START, a temporary shopping centre in Christchurch, New Zealand.
- Downtown Container Park, is an outdoor shopping mall and entertainment complex in Las Vegas, Nevada, in which the shops and restaurants are housed in repurposed shipping containers
- Shipping container architecture
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Fry, Simon (26 January 2017). "Boxing clever: The firms based in shipping containers". BBC.
- ^ a b Cahill, Julia (7 March 2017). "BoxPark to open 20 pop-up food centres in UK and expand overseas". EG.
- ^ Hunter, Tom (23 October 2012). "Boxfresh to Boxpark: London Calling meets Pop-Up Entrepreneur Roger Wade". London Calling. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ a b Carey, Sean (3 December 2011). "The world's first pop-up shopping mall". The New Statesmen.
- ^ LOT-EK (2012). UPCYCLE. p. 20. ISBN 9781105967931.
- ^ Yuka Yoneda. "Puma City Shipping Container Store Comes to Boston's Fan Pier". Inhabitat.
- ^ Sershen, Daniel (4 January 2007). "'Made in China' moves into Russia's backyard". Christian Science Monitor.
- ^ Hendriksz, Vivian (19 February 2015). "Boxpark takes a stand against Dubai 'Copycat'". Fashion United.
- ^ "Dunstone backs mall built of ship containers". Financial Times. 30 November 2011.
- ^ "In Pictures: Pop-Up Shopping Mall Boxpark Opens In Shoreditch". Londonist. 2 December 2011.
- ^ Hobson, Rebecca (8 November 2011). ""Revolutionary" mall to open in Shoreditch". London Loves Business. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ Cunningham, Ed (18 July 2024). "Boxpark Shoreditch is officially closing this summer". Time Out London. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ Rigotti, Alex (25 July 2024). "NTIA demands "immediate action" to save Boxpark Shoreditch from closure". NME. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
- ^ a b Pettitt, Josh (20 March 2015). "Boxpark Croydon: Shoreditch centre's owner announces 'modern Covent Garden' pop-up". The Standard.
- ^ Sheppard-Jones, Liz (16 February 2017). "Interview with Roger Wade, founder and CEO of Boxpark". The Croydon Citizen. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ a b aworden (27 October 2016). "Why Boxpark Croydon has a roof when Boxpark Shoreditch doesn't". Croydon Advertiser. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
- ^ "Boxpark Croydon / BDP". Arch Daily. 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Operator line-up for Boxpark Croydon revealed". The Caterer. 4 October 2017.
- ^ "Boxpark Croydon opens late October 2016". Croydon Business Improvement District.
- ^ TMackintosh (7 April 2017). "Boxpark to run a dozen 'large events' as founder says it needs to 'broaden its appeal'". Croydon Advertiser.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Check out what's happening in Croydon this summer as Boxpark reveal their long list of activities". Croydon Guardian. 15 June 2017.
- ^ Chaplain, Chloe (7 July 2018). "Jubilant football fans at Boxpark Croydon react to England goal against Sweden". Evening Standard.
- ^ "BOXPARK Croydon hosts football fandom experience for Saturday's Crystal Palace match | SWLondoner". South West Londoner. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ Degun, Gurjit (22 September 2017). "Boxpark to open in Wembley". Campaign.
- ^ "Boxpark Opens In Wembley". Ham & High. 7 December 2018.
- ^ Miller, Frederica (21 May 2018). "Boxpark Wembley names some of the restaurants that will be in the new food mall". Get West London.
- ^ Galton, Bridget (7 December 2018). "Boxpark Opens In Wembley". Brent & Kilburn Times.
- ^ Stevens, Ben (17 January 2019). "Spotlight: Boxpark Wembley". Retail Gazette.
- ^ Sims, Alexandra (7 June 2019). "Learn all the moves to 'Wannabe' at a Spice Girls fan zone in Wembley". Time Out.
- ^ Peracha, Qasim (25 March 2019). "The 24 Boxpark Wembley restaurants, cafés and dessert parlours opened so far". My London.
- ^ Pole, Matt (6 April 2019). "Brighton fans hail Hughton and Bloom ahead of FA Cup semi-final". Brighton & Hove Independent.
- ^ Sheehan, Rory (11 March 2024). "Boxpark confirms Liverpool opening date". Place North West. Retrieved 26 May 2024.