Two new shops, 50% off and a surprise switch: will you visit Maidstone’s Fremlin Walk this week?

Shoppers in Maidstone face a fast-changing high street landscape as new names move in and deep discounts tempt tight budgets.

Within days, one empty unit has sprung back to life and another looks set to follow, reshaping Fremlin Walk’s retail mix.

What’s changing at Fremlin Walk

Home Store has opened inside the former Zara unit, bringing curtains, cushions, décor and kitchenware back to a prime spot in the centre. The retailer has launched with a “special opening” promotion, advertising up to 50% off selected lines. For households juggling costs, the timing feels designed to catch the eye before winter spending kicks in.

Home Store is trading now in Zara’s old space with opening deals of up to 50% off, drawing quick footfall back to the site.

Zara’s abrupt closure in December 2023 left a visible gap in Maidstone’s festive shopping season. That vacancy has ended, replacing fast fashion with practical home goods and gifting ranges. Staff say early demand centres on soft furnishings, storage and kitchen basics, as shoppers refresh interiors for colder months.

From Zara to Home Store: what you’ll find

The offer leans into value-for-money homeware: thermal curtains, scatter cushions, throws, wall décor, cookware and everyday kitchen tools. Expect seasonal lines to rotate quickly. Entry-price buys sit alongside larger-ticket pieces, giving room for small top-ups as well as full-room makeovers. Shoppers looking for quick wins will likely target kitchen utensils, baking kit and storage tubs, where savings can add up across a basket.

Holland & Barrett lines up the former Quiz unit

Next in the queue is health and wellbeing chain Holland & Barrett. A planning application, lodged with Maidstone council last week, seeks permission for glass-mounted lettering and an illuminated projecting sign carrying the brand’s logo at the former Quiz site. The paperwork signals intent to occupy, although a formal opening date has not been published.

Paperwork filed with the council shows Holland & Barrett preparing signage for the ex-Quiz unit, a clear step toward opening.

Quiz exited Fremlin Walk earlier this year as the fashion group shuttered 23 stores nationally following insolvency pressures. The move left a second hole on the mall’s fashion strip. A switch to health, vitamins and specialist foods would broaden the centre’s mix while reducing reliance on discretionary clothing spend.

More fresh arrivals signal momentum

The Danish homeware and lifestyle brand Søstrene Grene launched its second Kent store at Fremlin Walk at the end of August, expanding choice in the affordable design niche. It occupies the former Laura Ashley unit beside Frasers. The Scandinavian retailer’s formula—soft furnishings, kitchenware, hobby crafts, small furniture, toys and seasonal decorations—fills the gap left by heritage interiors labels while leaning into small-ticket, high-frequency purchases.

Jamaica Blue opened a month earlier a few doors away, taking over from Patisserie Valerie. The bakery chain had surprised locals with a closure notice in February and no longer trades anywhere in Kent. The new café restores a sit-down option for shoppers who want a mid-visit break without leaving the scheme.

What this means for you

• Deals now: Home Store’s opening offers mean you can refresh basics for less ahead of winter.
• Health choice soon: Holland & Barrett’s planned arrival adds vitamins, supplements and free-from foods to the mall’s mix.
• Gift options: Søstrene Grene’s seasonal ranges and crafts provide lower-cost presents and stocking fillers.
• Convenience returns: With a new café open, you can combine errands, lunch and browsing in one trip.
• Employment openings: New stores typically advertise for sales assistants and supervisors; check in-store posters.

Timing, parking and footfall

Expect weekend peaks as word spreads about the 50% offers. Weekday mornings usually stay calmer. Check the centre’s published trading hours before you set off, especially on Sundays. If you plan a bigger haul, bring reusable bags and measure windows and curtain poles at home to avoid returns. Keep receipts and ask about refund deadlines on promotional items, as retailers sometimes set shorter periods on launch deals.

Planning and design details

Retailers often apply for signage consent separately from fit-out. Holland & Barrett’s proposal for glass-mounted letters and a lit hanging sign hints at a straightforward exterior refresh rather than major façade work. Councils typically aim to decide minor applications within around eight weeks. If approval lands quickly, shopfitting can move fast, although supply chain lead times for fixtures and illuminated signs can still dictate the final date.

Illuminated projecting signs play a practical role on curved or multi-tenant streetscapes, aiding visibility from different angles and improving wayfinding. Expect neutral, brand-led styling consistent with the chain’s well-known green identity and a clean, clinic-like interior layout that steers customers by category—vitamins, sports nutrition, herbal remedies and specialist foods.

Retail shifts: risks and upsides

Fremlin Walk’s latest changes mirror national patterns: fashion chains trimming estates while value-led homeware, cafés and health specialists pick up prominent units. For shoppers, the upside is broader choice and sharper pricing on everyday goods. The risk is churn—short leases can mean quick exits if sales dip. Signs to watch include the duration of opening promotions and how quickly shelves refill once launch stock sells through.

Two arrivals, 23 national closures behind Quiz’s retreat, and opening discounts up to 50%: Maidstone’s retail mix is turning a corner.

Households planning a budget-friendly spruce-up can combine Home Store’s entry-price textiles with Søstrene Grene’s smaller décor pieces to lift rooms without a full refit. If you follow specific diets, keep an eye on Holland & Barrett’s free-from shelves when it opens; ranges such as gluten-free baking ingredients and plant-based protein powders can fluctuate seasonally, so buying staples during promotions often pays off.

For small businesses nearby, increased footfall from two high-interest openings can support weekday trade. Consider timing visits earlier in the day if you want quieter aisles. If you’re sensitive to lighting, note that illuminated signage can appear brighter at dusk; inside, retailers typically balance LED brightness with warm colour temperatures to keep browsing comfortable.