Merrion Centre welcomes ‘The Mini Mall’

The Merrion Centre is set to become the home of an exciting new retail and food destination this summer, as The Mini Mall launches its flagship venue in the heart of Leeds’ Arena Quarter.

The 4,885 sq ft ground-floor space will introduce a fresh, community-led retail concept dedicated entirely to independent Yorkshire brands, artisan producers, and local food creators.

Operating as a premium 'satellite department store', The Mini Mall provides established independent businesses with fully staffed, centrally managed retail bays. It complements traditional retail models by offering a managed, flexible platform that allows brands to focus on growth, customer engagement and product development.

The Mini Mall brings together a curated selection of Yorkshire-based homeware designers, fashion labels, craft producers, and street food vendors under one roof, offering visitors a dynamic, ever-evolving shopping experience.

The venue is operated in partnership with the Eventszo team, who manage backend logistics, staffing and day-to-day operations. However, the concept has been intentionally designed so that the operational structure remains behind the scenes, allowing independent traders to take centre stage.

Shaz Westfield, founder of Eventszo, said: "The Mini Mall was created to give independent businesses the opportunity to trade in a prime city-centre location without the barriers that often come with traditional retail.

“Yorkshire is home to an incredible community of makers, creators and food businesses, and our goal is to provide a platform where they can grow, connect with new customers and thrive. We're delighted to be launching our flagship venue at the Merrion Centre and look forward to building a destination that champions local talent and entrepreneurship."

The Mini Mall model is designed to act as an economic accelerator for micro-businesses across the region. In addition to supporting dozens of independent traders, the project is creating five direct retail and operational roles to manage the central floor.

More broadly, it provides a scalable platform for small brands to test, grow and build customer bases in one of Leeds' busiest retail destinations.

The choice of the Merrion Centre was driven by its high daily footfall, strong student and city-centre demographic mix, and its reputation for supporting innovative retail concepts. Representatives from The Mini Mall highlighted the Centre's openness to new ideas as a key factor in the partnership.

Charles Newman, asset management director at Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), owners of The Merrion Centre, said: "What makes the Merrion Centre different is the breadth and character of our occupier mix. We've always championed businesses that bring something unique to the city centre, creating a destination that offers visitors experiences they won't find elsewhere on the high street.

“The Mini Mall is a natural fit for us. By bringing together a collection of Yorkshire's independent brands under one roof, it strengthens our commitment to supporting local enterprise while adding another exciting dimension to the Centre's retail and leisure offer."

The Mini Mall will open to the public on Saturday 25th July with an official public grand opening featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live brand showcases, and the full launch of the Mini Food Hall.

The public launch will include free tastings, product demonstrations, and opportunities for shoppers to meet the makers behind the brands.

Westfield added: "The Merrion Centre's commitment to independent retail and forward-thinking concepts made it the perfect location for our flagship launch. It gives our traders immediate access to one of the most active city-centre audiences in Leeds."

Unlike traditional department stores, The Mini Mall is built around visibility for independent businesses rather than corporate branding. Photography and storytelling for the launch will focus on artisans, bakers, designers and boutique owners working within the space, reinforcing the community-driven ethos at the heart of the project.

The result is a retail experience that celebrates Yorkshire creativity, supports local entrepreneurship and gives shoppers a direct connection to the people behind the products they buy.