The historic Allders building in Croydon is being brought back to life this week as Allders Parade Croydon, a new retail destination combining a mix of shops and cafés in the heart of the town.
Opening in phases from 26 September, Allders Parade Croydon marks the return of the famous name more than a decade after the flagship department store closed in 2013. The original Allders opened in 1862 and grew to become Britain’s third-largest department store, leaving a lasting legacy on the town’s retail landscape. Subsequent attempts to repurpose the building, including the Croydon Village Outlet pop-ups, closed in 2019, leaving the site largely vacant.
The redevelopment of the Allders frontage forms part of a wider regeneration of Croydon’s town centre, led by shopping centre developer Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in partnership with Croydon Council. The scheme has sought to revitalise North End and inject new activity into the area, which has faced years of high street decline.
The initial plan had been to open seven new kiosks on the parade, of which the first six have now been announced. The first shops to open at Allders Parade Croydon include Miniso, a lifestyle and homeware retailer; women’s clothing brand Abaci; Isle of Flowers, a local florist; and two cafés, Coco & Nut and Melting Moments, the latter recreating a nostalgic ice cream offering from the original Allders department store.
Adam Smith, strategic development director at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said: “The launch of Allders Parade Croydon is a fundamental step in The Croydon Project’s transformation of the town centre. We’re delighted to welcome these brands, creating a new retail destination in one of the town’s most cherished landmarks. This is the start of a vision for a more sustainable, connected and community-focused future for Croydon.”
Mayor Jason Perry added: “It is encouraging to see this landmark building preserved and brought back into use. Allders Parade Croydon represents an exciting milestone in the wider regeneration of our town centre and provides a mix of quality local and national businesses for residents to enjoy.”
The refurbishment has created six units along North End, including four shops and two food and beverage units. While only two stores are opening immediately, the remainder are set to follow every fortnight through October, according to Westfield marketing manager Dominique Stagg. The phased approach reflects careful planning and preparation for the new tenants.
Allders Parade Croydon aims to offer a fresh boost of footfall and confidence to the area. The combination of local favourites and established global brands seeks to strike a balance between community-focused offerings and familiar retail names, giving Croydon residents and visitors renewed reasons to explore the town centre.
Despite delays and previous false starts, the reopening of Allders Parade Croydon is being framed by local authorities as a milestone in the ongoing effort to reinvigorate North End. The development forms part of a broader investment in the town centre, alongside improvements to the Centrale and Whitgift shopping malls. The project reflects a commitment to creating spaces that are vibrant, accessible and commercially viable, while respecting the heritage of one of Croydon’s most iconic buildings.
For some Croydon shoppers, the return of Allders is more than a nod to nostalgia. It represents the potential for a renewed sense of purpose and energy in the town centre, with a curated mix of retail, food and drink designed to attract visitors and support local businesses. Allders Parade Croydon is aimed to be a focal point for the community and a key step in the ongoing transformation of one of south London’s historic retail hubs.
However many others have come away from the project substantially underwhelmed. A poll by the independent journalism source “Inside Croydon” showed that over 87% of those polled described this latest attempt at revitalising the town centre as “grim”. There also remain questions why the initial plan for seven kiosks has been scaled back down to just six, and why only two will be opening for business at this stage
