With access to thousands of potential shoppers each hour, retail units on the Tube are highly sought after and most are occupied on long term leases.
As part of their ongoing work to “modernise and improve” stations, LU bosses last month announced that some units would in future be let on a temporary basis in order to offer commuters a changing and diverse mix of shops.
The stores at Old Street include Driftrock, an online marketing company helping small to medium size businesses with their digital marketing, optical brand Bailey Nelson, and Mallow and Marsh which sells handmade marshmallow.
The initiative is part of a wider strategy to raise £3.5bn from development and commercial activities over the next ten years, money City Hall and Transport for London say will help hold down fares in future years.
In January LU signed deals with Tesco and Waitrose which will see the supermarkets install collection points in six stations while InPost, a parcel delivery services for multiple retailers, is to install lockers at 3 stations.
Graeme Craig, Director of Commercial Development at TfL, said: “ We are always looking at ways to improve the experience for our customers. We are looking forward to working with these fantastic businesses.
“We would also welcome discussions with other people who have great ideas that they would like to share with our millions of customers, either at Old Street or elsewhere.”
