# Boxpark

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Food/retail park made from shipping containers

Boxpark Croydon

**Boxpark** is a food and retail park made out of refitted [shipping containers](/source/Shipping_containers) in Britain.[1] It was founded by Roger Wade, who described it as the "world's first [pop-up](/source/Pop-up_retail) mall".[1] The first Boxpark was launched in [Shoreditch](/source/Shoreditch) in 2011, another was built in [Croydon](/source/Croydon) next to [East Croydon station](/source/East_Croydon_station) in 2016, and a third opened in [Wembley](/source/Wembley) in late 2018.[2]

## Origin

The first Boxpark opened in Shoreditch in 2011.

According to its founder Roger Wade, who started out with the street fashion shop and label [Boxfresh](/source/Boxfresh),[3] 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".[4] 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](/source/Puma_SE) City shop in US cities,[5][6] and the [Dordoy Bazaar](/source/Dordoy_Bazaar) in [Bishkek](/source/Bishkek), [Kyrgyzstan](/source/Kyrgyzstan).[7] The company has plans to expand to other countries; however, a retail park also called Boxpark that opened in [Dubai](/source/Dubai) is not part of this company.[8]

## Boxpark Shoreditch

A coffee shop in Boxpark Shoreditch

The first temporary shopping centre, backed by Charles Dunstone of [Carphone Warehouse](/source/Carphone_Warehouse), was built at Bethnal Green Road on part of the former [Bishopsgate goods yard](/source/Bishopsgate_railway_station) in [Shoreditch](/source/Shoreditch).[9] Boxpark opened in December 2011,[10] initially made out of 60 recycled shipping containers over two floors, with 40 in the lower floor, 20 in the upper floor.[4][11] 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](/source/The_Goodsyard) development.[12] 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.[13]

## Boxpark Croydon

Interior view of 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](/source/Croydon_Vision_2020).[14] The centre was built with a £3 million loan from the [Croydon Council](/source/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.[15][16] The scheme was designed by BDP, and the two-storey structure is constructed out of 96 shipping containers.[17] 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.[14] 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.[16] Boxpark Croydon has 36 shop units and is focused on dining and drink outlets.[18] It opened in October 2016.[19] It also hosts events such as music performances, kickboxing and screenings of films and football matches.[20][21][22] The resident [DJ](/source/Disc_jockey) of the Croydon is DJ Jay Knox.[23]

## Boxpark Wembley

Boxpark Wembley

A third Boxpark opened near [Wembley Stadium](/source/Wembley_Stadium) in December 2018.[24][25] Boxpark Wembley is the largest one yet, covering a floor area of 50,000 sq ft, with a 2,000-person capacity events space.[26] 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.[27][28] It is regularly used as a fan zone for those attending football matches, concerts and other events held at Wembley.[29][30][31]

## Boxpark Liverpool

The first Boxpark outside London opened in the [Baltic Triangle](/source/Baltic_Triangle) area of [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool) on 19 April 2024.[32]

## See also

- [Re:START](/source/Re%3ASTART), a temporary shopping centre in Christchurch, New Zealand.

- [Downtown Container Park](/source/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](/source/Shipping_container_architecture)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BBC_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BBC_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-BBC_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-BBC_1-3) Fry, Simon (26 January 2017). ["Boxing clever: The firms based in shipping containers"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38742250). BBC.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-eg_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-eg_2-1) Cahill, Julia (7 March 2017). ["BoxPark to open 20 pop-up food centres in UK and expand overseas"](http://www.egi.co.uk/news/boxpark-to-open-20-pop-up-food-malls-in-uk-and-expand-overseas/). *EG*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Hunter, Tom (23 October 2012). ["Boxfresh to Boxpark: London Calling meets Pop-Up Entrepreneur Roger Wade"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180402041225/https://www.londoncalling.com/features/boxfresh-to-boxpark-london-calling-meets-pop-up-entrepreneur-roger-wade). *London Calling*. Archived from [the original](http://londoncalling.com/features/boxfresh-to-boxpark-london-calling-meets-pop-up-entrepreneur-roger-wade) on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-new_statesmen_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-new_statesmen_4-1) Carey, Sean (3 December 2011). ["The world's first pop-up shopping mall"](http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/12/london-boxpark-world). *The New Statesmen*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** LOT-EK (2012). [*UPCYCLE*](https://books.google.com/books?id=75rfAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT20). p. 20. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781105967931](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781105967931).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Yuka Yoneda. ["Puma City Shipping Container Store Comes to Boston's Fan Pier"](http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-puma-city-shipping-container-store-comes-to-bostons-fan-pier/). *Inhabitat*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Sershen, Daniel (4 January 2007). ["'Made in China' moves into Russia's backyard"](https://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0104/p06s01-wosc.html). *Christian Science Monitor*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Hendriksz, Vivian (19 February 2015). ["Boxpark takes a stand against Dubai 'Copycat'"](https://fashionunited.uk/news/retail/boxpark-takes-a-stand-against-dubai-copycat/2015021915575). *Fashion United*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Dunstone backs mall built of ship containers"](https://www.ft.com/content/4e9c30e0-1b6f-11e1-8b11-00144feabdc0). *Financial Times*. 30 November 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["In Pictures: Pop-Up Shopping Mall Boxpark Opens In Shoreditch"](http://londonist.com/2011/12/in-pictures-pop-up-shopping-mall-boxpark-opens-in-shoreditch). *Londonist*. 2 December 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Hobson, Rebecca (8 November 2011). [""Revolutionary" mall to open in Shoreditch"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170616125809/http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/revolutionary-mall-to-open-in-shoreditch/971.article). *London Loves Business*. Archived from [the original](http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/revolutionary-mall-to-open-in-shoreditch/971.article) on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Cunningham, Ed (18 July 2024). ["Boxpark Shoreditch is officially closing this summer"](https://www.timeout.com/london/news/boxpark-shoreditch-is-officially-closing-this-summer-071824). *Time Out London*. Retrieved 20 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Rigotti, Alex (25 July 2024). ["NTIA demands "immediate action" to save Boxpark Shoreditch from closure"](https://www.nme.com/news/music/ntia-demands-immediate-action-to-save-boxpark-shoreditch-from-closure-3778143). *NME*. Retrieved 26 July 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-standard_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-standard_14-1) Pettitt, Josh (20 March 2015). ["Boxpark Croydon: Shoreditch centre's owner announces 'modern Covent Garden' pop-up"](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/boxpark-croydon-shoreditch-centres-owner-announces-modern-covent-garden-pop-up-10121856.html). *The Standard*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Sheppard-Jones, Liz (16 February 2017). ["Interview with Roger Wade, founder and CEO of Boxpark"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180922024424/https://thecroydoncitizen.com/politics-society/interview-with-roger-wade-founder-and-ceo-of-boxpark/). *The Croydon Citizen*. Archived from [the original](https://thecroydoncitizen.com/politics-society/interview-with-roger-wade-founder-and-ceo-of-boxpark/) on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-advertiser_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-advertiser_16-1) aworden (27 October 2016). ["Why Boxpark Croydon has a roof when Boxpark Shoreditch doesn't"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161031234023/http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/why-boxpark-croydon-has-a-roof-when-boxpark-shoreditch-doesn-t/story-29847126-detail/story.html). *Croydon Advertiser*. Archived from [the original](http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/why-boxpark-croydon-has-a-roof-when-boxpark-shoreditch-doesn-t/story-29847126-detail/story.html) on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Boxpark Croydon / BDP"](http://www.archdaily.com/799612/boxpark-croydon-bdp). *Arch Daily*. 18 November 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Operator line-up for Boxpark Croydon revealed"](https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/368714/operator-line-up-for-boxpark-croydon-revealed). *The Caterer*. 4 October 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Boxpark Croydon opens late October 2016"](http://croydonbid.com/news/boxpark-croydon-opens-late-october-2016). *Croydon Business Improvement District*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** TMackintosh (7 April 2017). ["Boxpark to run a dozen 'large events' as founder says it needs to 'broaden its appeal'"](http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/boxpark-to-run-a-dozen-large-events-as-founder-says-it-needs-to-broaden-its-appeal/story-30256422-detail/story.html). *Croydon Advertiser*.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Check out what's happening in Croydon this summer as Boxpark reveal their long list of activities"](http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/15350694.Find_out_what__39_s_on_at_Croydon_Boxpark_this_summer/). *Croydon Guardian*. 15 June 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Chaplain, Chloe (7 July 2018). ["Jubilant football fans at Boxpark Croydon react to England goal against Sweden"](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/jubilant-football-fans-at-boxpark-croydon-react-to-england-goal-against-sweden-a3881926.html). *Evening Standard*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["BOXPARK Croydon hosts football fandom experience for Saturday's Crystal Palace match | SWLondoner"](https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/05022020-crystal-palace-everton-boxpark-croydon). *South West Londoner*. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Degun, Gurjit (22 September 2017). ["Boxpark to open in Wembley"](https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/boxpark-open-wembley/1445431). *Campaign*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Boxpark Opens In Wembley"](https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/etcetera/outdoors/boxpark-wembley-opens-1-5810575). *Ham & High*. 7 December 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Miller, Frederica (21 May 2018). ["Boxpark Wembley names some of the restaurants that will be in the new food mall"](https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/boxpark-wembley-names-restaurants-new-14686064). *Get West London*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Galton, Bridget (7 December 2018). ["Boxpark Opens In Wembley"](https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/entertainment/days-out/boxpark-wembley-opens-1-5810575). *Brent & Kilburn Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** Stevens, Ben (17 January 2019). ["Spotlight: Boxpark Wembley"](https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2019/01/spotlight-boxpark-wembley-pop-up-retail-roger-wade/). *Retail Gazette*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** Sims, Alexandra (7 June 2019). ["Learn all the moves to 'Wannabe' at a Spice Girls fan zone in Wembley"](https://www.timeout.com/london/news/learn-all-the-moves-to-wannabe-at-a-spice-girls-fan-zone-in-wembley-060719). *Time Out*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** Peracha, Qasim (25 March 2019). ["The 24 Boxpark Wembley restaurants, cafés and dessert parlours opened so far"](https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/food-drink-news/24-boxpark-wembley-restaurants-cafs-16018800). *My London*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** Pole, Matt (6 April 2019). ["Brighton fans hail Hughton and Bloom ahead of FA Cup semi-final"](https://www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk/sport/football/albion/brighton-fans-hail-hughton-and-bloom-ahead-of-fa-cup-semi-final-1-8880792). *Brighton & Hove Independent*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** Sheehan, Rory (11 March 2024). ["Boxpark confirms Liverpool opening date"](https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/boxpark-confirms-liverpool-opening-date/). *Place North West*. Retrieved 26 May 2024.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Boxpark](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Boxpark).

- [Boxpark](https://www.boxpark.co.uk/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Boxpark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxpark) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxpark?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.