'This is a major investment in the future of Sutton Coldfield,' MP says as new Harvey Norman store opens

Multi-national home and lifestyle retailer Harvey Norman has today officially opened its new Sutton Coldfield store.

The new outlet in The Gracechurch Centre was officially declared open by former Mayor of the West Midlands Sir Andy Street and Sutton Coldfield MP Sir Andrew Mitchell at a VIP launch event this morning (Friday April 24).

It’s the fourth UK store opening for Harvey Norman, one of the world’s leading retailers in furniture, bedding, appliances, and technology, as it continues to expand its UK presence.

The official VIP opening event, which follows a soft launch earlier this month, was attended by guests, suppliers and local businesses and it kicks off a grand opening weekend with a raft of offers for shoppers to take advantage of.

Sir Andrew Mitchell hailed the opening of the new store a “good news story” and he said: “We are so proud and delighted to have not just this beautiful major branch of Harvey Norman in our Royal Town but also their national head quarters.

“This is a major investment in the future of Sutton Coldfield and a huge vote of confidence in our town - not least thanks to our former Conservative regional mayor, Sir Andy Street, who was pivotal in attracting Harvey Norman.”

He said the decision by Harvey Norman to base itself in Sutton Coldfield is testament to the strong partnership work that has been taking place between the town council, councillors , the former regional mayor and his office that has “brought in millions of pounds of local investment”.

Sir Andy Street said of the launch: “It was great to see the ribbon cut to open Harvey Norman’s new store and HQ in Sutton, as it is a project which we have been working on for some time.

“The challenge was to persuade both the owners of the Gracechurch Centre and Harvey Norman that Sutton was the place to invest and, as mayor, I worked with the Town Council and MP Andrew Mitchell to successfully make that case.

“They saw all the data and could see the potential of a major launch in Sutton, and we now have a flagship store that can kickstart the rebirth of the town centre – with other major brands already considering a move to the town.”

The opening of the Sutton Coldfield store follows the successful launch of the retailer’s flagship store at Merry Hill shopping centre in 2024.

The ASX-listed business, which has more than 300 stores globally, was founded back in 1982 and now has a UK estate comprising four locations including two stores in Belfast, with further store openings in the pipeline.

The Sutton Coldfield location also serves as the company’s UK headquarters, providing a centralised hub for its expanding operations and highlighting a longer-term commitment to scaling its footprint in Britain.

Lachlan Roach, managing director at Harvey Norman UK, said: “The opening of our fourth UK store marks an important step in our expansion. The West Midlands offers a strong regional economy, a large catchment area and a strategic base for our UK headquarters.

“Harvey Norman positions its large-format stores as destination retail spaces, combining furniture, appliances and technology under one roof, supported by in-store expertise. The grand opening weekend is a fantastic opportunity for the local community to experience everything the new store has to offer and we’ve also rolled out exclusive offers across all our stores this weekend to celebrate the occasion.”