Newmark Retail UK & EMEA has secured two new locations for Brooklyn-born coffee brand Blank Street in Manchester, its first shops outside London.
The first location is situated in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens, an open-space area close to the city’s busy shopping and business areas and right on the edge of the creative quarter. The 940sq ft coffee shop will be surrounded by a mix of historic and modern buildings.
The second location is a 710sq ft coffee shop at 62 Cross Street, just outside of the city’s famous Arndale Shopping Centre and a short distance from the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Originally from New York, Blank Street has become a popular choice in the UK coffee scene. Opening its first UK stores in London last summer, the brand seeks to redefine what it means to be a coffee chain – offering specialty-grade coffee at scale in beautiful modern spaces.
Newmark Retail has supported Blank Street in making London its ‘second-biggest city’ after New York and is now supporting its broader UK growth.
Simon Carson, Director and Head of the Leisure, Food & Beverage team for Newmark Retail UK & EMEA, said:
“We have been working alongside Blank Street for a year and a half, and, over that time, we have used a very data-driven approach when choosing each location. Leveraging its deep expertise, our team ensures each location matches the requirements of the business throughout the stringent site selection process.
“Both Manchester stores make a fantastic addition to Blank Streets’ impressive and growing line-up of city-based coffee shops.”
Ignacio Llando, Managing Director at Blank Street, said: “At Blank Street, we’re on a mission to make quality, specialty coffee available to all while also shaking up the industry through exciting product innovation and exceptional service. We can’t wait to welcome new regulars through the doors of our brand-new Manchester stores and show them what we’re all about.
“Manchester’s buzzing culture is the perfect match for our brand. We’ve had countless requests on social media asking for us to come to the city, so we’re thrilled to have answered that call with two beautiful new stores.
Blank Street currently operates sites in London, including New Oxford Street, Charlotte Street, South Kensington, Gloucester Road, Shoreditch, Eastcheap and Marble Arch.