Two major brands, Castore and Police, are joining Northern Ireland’s retail destination, The Boulevard, following a record-breaking summer in sales. Known for introducing new retail “firsts” to Northern Ireland, including kate spade ny, Adidas, and Levi’s, The Boulevard will now host Northern Ireland’s first Castore store and the first Police store on the entire island of Ireland, occupying 1,054 sq ft and 1,136 sq ft units, respectively.
Police, recognised globally for its urban style and high-profile ambassadors like Lewis Hamilton, George Clooney, and David Beckham, enters the Irish market with a selection of luxury accessories and premium clothing, catering to fashion-conscious customers. This new store extends Police’s presence to The Boulevard, joining over 80 international markets in the Middle East, China, and Europe.
Meanwhile, Castore, the British premium sportswear brand founded by brothers Tom and Phil Beahon, brings its hybrid, high-performance sportswear to Northern Ireland. Known as the official supplier for teams like Ireland and Rangers football, Ulster Rugby, and McLaren Formula 1, Castore will join a line-up of major sports brands at The Boulevard, including Under Armour, Nike, Asics, and Adidas.
Located along the A1 corridor between Belfast and Dublin, The Boulevard, managed by Lotus Property and advised on leasing by Johnstone Property Consultants, has seen a 19% increase in sales and a 5% rise in footfall compared to last year.
Paul McCann, Asset Manager at Lotus Property, commented, “The Boulevard is consistently breaking its own sales and footfall figures year-on-year and by welcoming both Police and Castore to the scheme, we are on track to finish 2024 as our strongest on record. Having unique stores that shoppers can’t find elsewhere is one of the things that sets us apart at The Boulevard and drives our footfall, and we are delighted to continue that trend and become home to two more ‘first’ brands.”
Imran Liaquat, Retail Director UK at Police, said, “With The Boulevard’s strong customer base, attracting both locals and tourists, it is the perfect location for us to open our first store in Ireland. Northern Ireland has a growing population of fashion-conscious men, particularly young professionals and urban dwellers, and our collection can cater for this demand, offering something unique.”
Danny Grimshaw, Head of Retail at Castore, added, “We are thrilled to continue our growth trajectory by opening our first store in Northern Ireland at The Boulevard, Banbridge. Operating alongside other premium sportswear brands places us amongst the right customer base to grow our presence in a new market. We can’t wait to welcome new customers through our doors and become part of The Boulevard family.”
