By Aimee Chanthadavong
US fashion retailer Forever 21 will open up its first shop in Australia as the sole retail tenant of Brisbane’s soon-to-be opened Next Hotel.
The 1,900 square metres retail space will spread over two storeys at SilverNeedle Hospitality’s Next Hotel, which will be located in Brisbane CBD’s Queen Street Mall.
“Australia is a terrific market and we hope to make a lot of customers happy,” said Forever 21 real estate and development director Jatin Malhotra.
“We are satisfied to have a strong landlord help us embark this journey. We will be penetrating the market in a sustainable manner."
Next Hotel — which is currently under redevelopment in former iconic Chifley at Lennons and is scheduled to open in mid-2014 — is an upper upscale brand designed to meet the need of the modern business travellers.
“Since it pioneered fast fashion in the 1980s, Forever 21 has emerged as one of the world’s most successful chains in the demanding retail world by focusing on delivering the latest trends to its customers,” said Iqbal Jumabhoy, SilverNeedle Hospitality managing director and group CEO.
“Similarly, we at SilverNeedle Hospitality aim to become a leading hotel management company by delivering what business travellers need. This we hope to achieve with our flagship Next Hotel brand by fusing smart technology with plush and comfortable spaces that make the most of our guests’ time.”
Forever 21 will join a handful of international retailers such as Zara and Gap that are already trading in Australia.