This Abandoned Department Store Is Set for Demolition. Now The Skateboarders Rolled In.

Skateboarders breathe new life into a massive abandoned store.

The ground floor of the building that houses Debenhams in Bristol, southwest England and opened in 1957, was transformed, albeit temporarily, into an old building. Shredenhamsan indoor skate park and creative hub.

Long forgotten shelving units, lumber and many other abandoned and trashed materials were salvaged and reused.

“The bottom half of the old escalators became quarter pipes,” said Tim Noakes of the nonprofit. Campus Skate ParksThe company that operates the venue told HuffPost. “Probably the best metaphor for this whole project is taking something consumption-oriented and turning it into something fun and impactful.”

Shopping centre closed its doors Following Debenhams in May 2021 entered administrationA process similar to entering Chapter 11 in the US

As it lay empty Controversial plans to demolish and replace the building It continued on its way with a 28-storey skyscraper block containing 500 flats and workplaces. These were approved in April 2024.

Shortly thereafter, the developer approached Campus with the idea of ​​filling the space with “”.use it in the meantimeNoakes explained that they aim to keep the project in use until demolition teams arrive.

“The landlord would have been under significant pressure to have the space occupied and open to the community… So the relationship worked out on both sides,” Noakes said. “We had the chance to bring our vision to the high street and they began using a space that would otherwise have sat dormant in an active, community-focused way. It turned out to be a fitting partnership.”

Work started in December last year. Untouched since its closure, the building was a cold, dark shell with no water, electricity or heating. “Honestly, to say it was worse than the car park would be an understatement. At least the car parks have lighting,” Noakes recalled.

In just six weeks, the campus’ small team transformed “an empty concrete box filled with retail supplies and dust” into “something full of energy, life and movement”; They saved money by reusing everything they found in the abandoned building while also preserving elements of the store’s and the city’s history.

“Recycling has not only saved costs, it has become part of the design language. Everything has a story,” he said.

The campus’ previous projects, such as the urban swimming pool and youth center, were set aside. Shredenhams, by contrast, is in the city centre. Noakes said table tennis, football and pool tables, pinball machines and café bar make it the most socially integrated space they have created.

300 skaters attended the launch event in June and “it was absolutely crazy,” he recalled. “It was as if we had cracked the code, as if we were about to become the hottest venue in Bristol overnight. The heatwave hit the very next day. The footfall naturally died down as everyone went out, which brought us straight back down to earth. But that’s the nature of a new venture – ups and downs.”

Feedback from visitors has been positive, he said. “Lifelong skaters have told us it’s the best indoor setup they’ve ever ridden, and we’ve had all the first-time skaters walk in and feel instantly at home. That’s always been our goal: to create a space that feels open and welcoming, whether you skate or not.”

But managing expectations is crucial. “We are in the process of proving that this concept works both socially and commercially,” he said. “The team is working incredibly hard behind the scenes, listening to feedback, adjusting our offering, and staying flexible so we can respond to what the community really needs. It’s early days and we’re learning fast.”

The park is open to everyone aged 14 and over. Events have already included a graffiti battle, a shoe launch party and regular community days. Plans include live skateboarding sessions, art installations and brand collaborations.

“The space is built for this kind of thing; we want it to feel like a venue as much as a skate park,” Noakes said.

It remains unclear how long they will remain there due to their “in-between use” status.

“Maybe 12 months, maybe more. But if we can prove the concept, it could open doors to other areas,” said Noakes, who acknowledged the financial risks but said those risks were mitigated by keeping costs low, being cash-savvy and accessing support “that commercial operators cannot”.

“Some things are worth the risk,” he said.

The bigger idea? “Shredenhams shows that even a dead store can be repurposed. The high street isn’t dead, it just needs to change direction.”

The biggest highlight so far? Skateboarding Great Britainkeep rolling“It’s an event for wheelchair skaters and adaptive skateboarders,” he said.

“To see accessible skaters using the space in their own way, completely owning it and feeling welcomed… that was huge. It reminded me why we do this,” Noakes said. “It’s easy to get caught up in the production, branding and logistics, but moments like this cut through all of that. It was emotional in the best way and made me really proud of what we created.”