Bernadette Pimenta commits to High Street, Armadale tenancy
Melbourne designer Bernadette Pimenta Couture has committed to a refurbished office space to be used as a showroom for her bridalwear selection.
Bernadette Pimenta has been a fixture in the fashion industry for more than 27 years.
The designer has moved into the prime section High Street Armadale and will use the space for their new design and fitting studio for its hand-crafted gowns.
The move highlights the high demand for retail space in Armadale's tightly held, coveted High Street precinct.
Fitzroys James Spencer leased the refurbished 187 sqm space at Level 1, 1062 High Street on a three-year deal with a three-year option at $50,000 per annum net.
Spencer said the floor had been used in the past as an office, but the overwhelming demand from independent and international retailers for a prime location in one of Melbourne’s most prized shopping strips has seen this transformed into a boutique retail space.
According to Fitzroys’ Walk the Strip, Armadale saw retail vacancies fall by 7.9% over 12 months to 4.1% during 2018, making it one of the best performers of Melbourne’s shopping strips.
“High Street Armadale is one of the strongest retail strips in Melbourne at the moment, supported by major retail brands. The sheer lack of retail space available in the strip underpinned the decision to turn the beautiful office space into a retail showroom experience for retailers,” he said.
“We are consistently talking to reputable retailers who want to be on High Street, Armadale and the outlook for demand and the strip is bright.”
The shopping strip’s strong catchment and inner-city location has attracted high-end independent and international fashion retailers, with ACNE Studios, Carla Zampatti, Zimmermann and Scanlan Theodore all located in the prime section and within a few metres of Bernadette Pimenta’s new space, as well as the recently opened bespoke store of H&M’s upmarket sister label Cos.