The outdoor clothing chain Mountain Warehouse is set to grow its footprint in Oxford by occupying premises previously held by a book retailer in the city.
The business, which moved to expanded facilities at the Orchard Centre in Didcot during the past twelve months, has submitted applications to the council for signage installation at the historic William Baker House building, positioned where Cornmarket Street meets Broad Street.
The retailer presently runs a shop on Broad Street, where signage currently displays messages indicating a closure and relocation sale.
A staff member mentioned that the move to William Baker House would cover four levels, with a projected launch timeframe between mid-May and mid-June.
Efforts have been occurring to clear out William Baker House following Waterstones’ exit. Builders have been extracting a material resembling asbestos from the former bookshop premises.
Waterstones inhabited the Grade II-protected William Baker House from 1998 until shutting down operations last summer. The bookseller has since set up operations in fresh Queen Street premises previously occupied by Topman, launching near the close of last year and featuring a basement-level café.
The five-storey William Baker House first opened in 1915. It stands next to The Store hotel, which occupies the location formerly held by Boswells department store until its shutdown in 2020.
The boutique accommodation opened its doors to visitors in May 2024, complete with a rooftop terrace bar and the Treadwell dining venue.
Mountain Warehouse launched its inaugural Didcot store at the Orchard Centre in 2018 prior to upgrading to larger facilities during the previous year.
The retailer’s move means Warner Brothers has abandoned plans for a Harry Potter-themed attraction at the old bookshop. Workers on the site noted last year that the film company had been assessing the retail space before discarding its proposal.
Oxford city councillor Susanna Pressel indicated in January that she was pleased another enterprise would occupy the former bookshop. She mentioned that she had appreciated having Waterstones nearby and visited regularly. She expressed disappointment at their move to a smaller, less prominent spot. She observed that Mountain Warehouse fulfilled a role, with sports shoes and everyday clothing being standard nowadays and available at reasonable prices from this retailer. She added that from her perspective, this was much better than a typical bank or building society occupying the space.
Mountain Warehouse was founded by Mark Neale in 1997 and now spans 400 brands worldwide. During the early part of the 2000s, the company shifted from Karrimor stores to the Mountain Warehouse brand, concentrating on its own label products.