Boxpark is a food and retail park made out of refitted shipping containers in Britain. [1] It was founded by Roger Wade, who described it as the "world's first pop-up mall". [1] The first Boxpark was launched in Shoreditch in 2011, another was built in Croydon next to East Croydon station in 2016, and a third opened in Wembley in late 2018. [2]
According to its founder Roger Wade, who started out with the street fashion shop and label Boxfresh, [3] the idea for a shopping centre made out of shipping containers has its origin in 1999, while he was attending German trade shows with Boxfresh. For each show, he would need to build a mini shop that would then be demolished, and he wondered if he could build a trade show stand in a container that could be reused. He said: "That was the beginning of my fascination, in 1999. Years later a friend was running retail developments, so some time in 2008-09 I wondered 'why not build a whole retail development out of containers?" [1]
The first Boxpark was built in 2011 and was described "the world's first pop up mall". [4] However, by then shipping containers had already been used as pop-up shops, office and retail spaces around the world, for example the portable Puma City shop in US cities, [5] [6] and the Dordoy Bazaar in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. [7] The company has plans to expand to other countries; however, a retail park also called Boxpark that opened in Dubai is not part of this company. [8]
The first temporary shopping centre, backed by Charles Dunstone of Carphone Warehouse, was built at Bethnal Green Road on part of the former Bishopsgate goods yard in Shoreditch. [9] Boxpark opened in December 2011, [10] initially made out of 60 recycled shipping containers over two floors, with 40 in the lower floor, 20 in the upper floor. [4] [11] Originally intended to open for five years, the centre is still operating. Boxpark Shoreditch has 19 restaurants and bars and 27 shops. [1]
The Boxpark at Shoreditch was redeveloped in 2017, with the upper deck becoming the focus for street food at the venue. [2] In July 2024, it was announced that it would close down by the end of summer to make way for The Goodsyard development. [12] In response to the announcement, The Night Time Industries Association started a campaign to save the site from closure, arguing that it has launched hundreds of new independent businesses and annually contributes more than £80 million to the local economy. [13]
On 20 March 2015, it was announced that a second Boxpark would be built in Croydon to coincide with the regeneration project Croydon Vision 2020. [14] The centre was built with a £3 million loan from the Croydon Council and intended to be a temporary structure that would last for five years, until homes and offices could be developed on the site. [15] [16] The scheme was designed by BDP, and the two-storey structure is constructed out of 96 shipping containers. [17] It is in the form of a semi-enclosed market hall with units arranged around it, and provides 24,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant space, double that of Shoreditch. [14] The Boxpark in Croydon has a covered seating area, as it was found that trade dropped off during the winter months in Shoreditch when it was exposed to the elements. [16] Boxpark Croydon has 36 shop units and is focused on dining and drink outlets. [18] It opened in October 2016. [19] It also hosts events such as music performances, kickboxing and screenings of films and football matches. [20] [21] [22] The resident DJ of the Croydon is DJ Jay Knox. [23]
A third Boxpark opened near Wembley Stadium in December 2018. [24] [25] Boxpark Wembley is the largest one yet, covering a floor area of 50,000 sq ft, with a 2,000-person capacity events space. [26] Boxpark Wembley has 30 units, and 24 food and drink retail outlets have opened at the venue. As with Boxpark Croydon, the open hall/events space may be used for events such as music performances and screenings. [27] [28] It is regularly used as a fan zone for those attending football matches, concerts and other events held at Wembley. [29] [30] [31]
The first Boxpark outside London opened in the Baltic Triangle area of Liverpool on 19 April 2024. [32]
