Boxpark
Food/retail park made from shipping containers
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Boxpark is a food and retail park made out of refitted shipping containers in Britain.[1] It was founded by Roger Wade, who described it as the "world's first pop-up mall".[1] The first Boxpark was launched in Shoreditch in 2011, followed by a second built in Croydon next to East Croydon station in 2016, and others were opened in Wembley in late 2018, and Liverpool and Camden Town in 2024.[2][3][4]
Origin
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According to its founder Roger Wade, who started out with the street fashion shop and label Boxfresh,[5] the idea for a shopping centre made out of shipping containers has its origin in 1999, while he was attending German trade shows with Boxfresh. For each show, he would need to build a mini shop that would then be demolished, and he wondered if he could build a trade show stand in a container that could be reused. He said: "That was the beginning of my fascination, in 1999. Years later a friend was running retail developments, so some time in 2008-09 I wondered 'why not build a whole retail development out of containers?"[1]
The first Boxpark was built in 2011 and was described "the world's first pop up mall".[6] However, by then shipping containers had already been used as pop-up shops, office and retail spaces around the world, for example the portable Puma City shop in US cities,[7][8] and the Dordoy Bazaar in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.[9] The company has plans to expand to other countries; however, a retail park also called Boxpark that opened in Dubai is not part of this company.[10]
Boxpark Shoreditch
The first temporary shopping centre, backed by Charles Dunstone of Carphone Warehouse, was built at Bethnal Green Road on part of the former Bishopsgate goods yard in Shoreditch.[11] Boxpark opened in December 2011,[12] initially made out of 60 recycled shipping containers over two floors, with 40 in the lower floor, 20 in the upper floor.[6][13] Originally intended to open for five years, the centre is still operating. Boxpark Shoreditch has 19 restaurants and bars and 27 shops.[1]
The Boxpark at Shoreditch was redeveloped in 2017, with the upper deck becoming the focus for street food at the venue.[2] In July 2024, it was announced that it would close down by the end of summer to make way for The Goodsyard development.[14] In response to the announcement, The Night Time Industries Association started a campaign to save the site from closure, arguing that it has launched hundreds of new independent businesses and annually contributes more than £80 million to the local economy. The campaign to save Boxpark Shoreditch was a success and the site remains open as of August 2026.[15]
Boxpark Croydon
On 20 March 2015, it was announced that a second Boxpark would be built in Croydon to coincide with the regeneration project Croydon Vision 2020.[16] The centre was built with a £3 million loan from the Croydon Council and intended to be a temporary structure that would last for five years, until homes and offices could be developed on the site.[17][18] The scheme was designed by BDP, and the two-storey structure is constructed out of 96 shipping containers.[19] It is in the form of a semi-enclosed market hall with units arranged around it, and provides 24,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant space, double that of Shoreditch.[16] The Boxpark in Croydon has a covered seating area, as it was found that trade dropped off during the winter months in Shoreditch when it was exposed to the elements.[18] Boxpark Croydon has 36 shop units and is focused on dining and drink outlets.[20] It opened in October 2016.[21] It also hosts events such as music performances, kickboxing and screenings of films and football matches.[22][23][24] The resident DJ of the Croydon is DJ Jay Knox.[25]
Boxpark Wembley
A third Boxpark opened near Wembley Stadium in December 2018.[26][27] Boxpark Wembley is the largest one yet, covering a floor area of 50,000 sq ft, with a 2,000-person capacity events space.[28] Boxpark Wembley has 30 units, and 24 food and drink retail outlets have opened at the venue. As with Boxpark Croydon, the open hall/events space may be used for events such as music performances and screenings.[29][30] It is regularly used as a fan zone for those attending football matches, concerts and other events held at Wembley.[31][32][33]
Boxpark Liverpool
The first Boxpark outside London opened in the Baltic Triangle area of Liverpool on 19 April 2024.[34] It is located in Cains Brewery Village operating on a 15-year lease, and the venue covers an area of 21,000 sq ft with a external terrace of 5,500 sq ft that may be used for dining and events.[3] As with the other Boxparks, Boxpark Liverpool is used as a venue for a variety of events.[35][36][37]
Boxpark Camden
Boxpark took over the Buck Street Market, a venue also constructed from shipping containers, in 2024.[38] The venue was renovated with a floor added for a planned rooftop terrace.[39] Box park Camden opened in September 2024. The venue covers 3 floors and has 60 food and retail units with 2 bars.[4]
See also
- Re:START, a temporary shopping centre in Christchurch, New Zealand.
- Downtown Container Park, is an outdoor shopping mall and entertainment complex in Las Vegas, Nevada, in which the shops and restaurants are housed in repurposed shipping containers
- Shipping container architecture
