The developers relaunching Bobby & Co in Bournemouth town centre – just shy of 50 years after it was replaced by Debenhams – are delighted to announced that the first phase of the grand reopening of the iconic building in The Square can finally be revealed.
Bobby’s was one of the original old department stores, opening back in 1915 and was the heart of Bournemouth town centre.
Verve Properties, an ethical property company recently announced plans to restore the building to its original early splendour and are currently working to regenerate the iconic Bobby & Co building, uncovering beautiful pieces of architecture that have been hidden for decades in the process.
Lost architectural detailing from the building’s heydays in the 1920s have been uncovered and restored and sit alongside contemporary finishes to give Bobby’s a new lease of life for a post COVID world. The copper domes will be repaired, the 1970’s canopy removed and replaced by the original awnings, the 1915 front entrance reintroduced, new ornate first floor balconies to match the others installed and so on, all of which aims to be front and centre of Verve’s plans for a rebirth and celebration of both the Bobby’s name and original architectural style – Bringing back the glamour and the style of the original Bobby’s from the early 20th Century.
The first elements of the revival will open on 7th August and Verve have been very deliberate in their quest to create a space to connect the Bournemouth community with local, ethical, and unique brands.
There has been a strong focus on repurposing this historic store to ensure that in the age of home delivery, people will still find purpose in visiting town centres. What needs to be on offer are those things that aren’t so easily replicated online, for example beauty, health and wellbeing. Beauty has remained robust in the face of the internet and remains a viable active use, particularly with the demise of so many department stores.. The second element core to Verve’s plan will be to focus on how to make the shopping experience fun, memorable, fresh and enjoyable. The third should be to remember that ultimately town centres are there to serve the local community as COVID has proven.
Bobby’s will not be a department store in the previous understanding of a single retailer offering multiple products in a single building. Instead, it is intended as a curation of a regionally significant building, hosting a number of independent uses, events and activities, centred around sustainability, localism and community. To ensure this prime frontage remains active the ground floor, The Beauty Hall will be home to a large number of local and ethical brands in addition to the welcome return of the major beauty houses which shoppers loved in the building’s previous incarnation. Local brands include BAO which was created by beauty expert Beth Coldrick when she found herself to be suffering from Crohn’s disease. The condition makes skin incredibly sensitive, and BAO was created to be kind to even the most delicate skin. It is this kind of locally sourced specialist skincare that Bobby’s plans to integrate more of in the future.
Opening later in the year, the beauty hall will expand to include a traditional barber shop, treatment rooms and wellness activities.
Making aesthetics a central part of the beauty retail experience and to further express the departure from the past. the beauty hall has been designed to be so full of greenery and warm woods as to be reminiscent of an indoor arboretum. And the 40% of that space that had previously been given over to Debenhams gifting, has been curated with a dedicated section for local, sustainable, and conscious beauty and health products, many unique to Bobby’s. A performance area will sit immediately adjacent with plans in place for events which will allow founders to tell stories behind the development of their products as well as providing interactive health and beauty related activities.
Also in the initial opening will be an artist run space & new gallery focused on international contemporary art, a traditional ice cream and coffee parlour, outdoor seating in the Square and a sushi restaurant. And South Coast Makers will be welcoming a shop, rotating a roster of the best of local talent for gifts as well providing classes and demonstrations.
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And of course, visitors will finally get to experience the pop-up that has got both tongues and tails wagging: Opening in the first phase will be DROOL the world’s first food hall devoted entirely to dogs. Featuring a cake shop, a “Lick ‘n’ Mix station”, and a doggy tuck shop, and a dog ball recycling centre (for the eco conscious canine in your life), Fish & Chip Flavour Dog Treats, Seaside Theme Biscuits, Strawberry Pupcakes, Dog Doughnuts and even Liver Cakes. With the abundance of new dog owners over the pandemic, this is a destination they can bring their pup if they are struggling to find sitters for their holidays.
Later in 2021 the building will see the opening of The Bobby & Co Market Hall on the first floor, with its large arched windows, decorative ceilings, and ornate balconies. It will house innovative, fresh, and independent food traders. It will be spread across the entire floor alongside Bobby’s Bar, the Deli, Coffee Lounge and Bobby’s Emporium Liquor store all nestled amongst a mix of artisan traders, a bar, coffee lounge and seating for up to 400 people. More elements are planned to open throughout the year and in to 2022, including DISTRICT, a smokehouse restaurant serving craft beers, Bobby’s Brasserie, a top floor fine dining restaurant, with roof top bar, and an onsite bakery and gardens.
