300th store opening for Wilkinson
the challenge:
Wilkinson Hardware Stores opened their 300th store at Clifton
Moor in York in 2008. We were asked to help them secure the
best possible terms for the lease of the premises, which were in
the process of construction and access rights were required for the
shop fit-out. Having worked for Wilkinson’s for over 25
years, our knowledge of their business and their particular
leasehold requirements assisted greatly in securing the best
possible terms for the letting.
our approach:
Round table meetings of all parties were held to enable
negotiations to proceed on a timely basis. We negotiated
safeguards in the lease agreement, including pre-completion
inspection procedures on measurement of the premises and the
quality of the works and contingencies to enable further
inspections to be carried out if Wilkinson’s felt that the works
had not been completed to the required standard. Other
negotiations on the lease dealt with requirements as to use,
alterations, payment of rent and service charges.
the result:
The terms of the lease were satisfactorily negotiated; the works
were carried out to the required standards and this landmark store
was opened on time. We also included franchising provisions,
which subsequently enabled Wilkinson’s to grant a concession to a
café operator.