Chilango, the leading Mexican burrito bar chain has opted to open its first restaurant in Scotland at the Sauchiehall Building, 165 Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow. The building, which was formerly known as the Sauchiehall Centre, was acquired by KKR and Quadrant Estates in March 2015 and is the subject of major refurbishment plans.

Chilango has taken a 15-year lease on Unit 24 on the ground floor of the western corner of the Sauchiehall Building which will extend to approximately 1,500 sq ft.  Redevelopment of this unit to create a contemporary restaurant featuring eye-catching custom graffiti murals and neon artwork will commence in September 2016, and is due for completion by the end of March 2017.  The new restaurant, will offer a range of flavorsome burritos in addition to ‘nudos’ (all the fillings without the wrap), tacos, nachos and salads to eat in or take away.

Chilango is the latest high profile tenant to sign at the Sauchiehall Building.  In May 2016, Smashburger, the leading US burger restaurant chain, took a 15-year lease on Unit 23 on the eastern corner of the Sauchiehall Building which will extend to a 4,000 sq ft and is due to open for business at early next year.    In addition Sports Direct.com, the sports retail giant, opened a new store in May extending to over 13,000 sq ft on the lower ground floor of the Sauchiehall Building.  Chilango will also sit alongside Primark, TK Maxx, WH Smith and Superdrug in the prime stretch of Sauchiehall Street, opposite Marks & Spencer, Boots and Argos. These tenants benefit from an annual footfall of almost 17 million created by the adjacent office core, leisure circuit and critical mass of large format anchor retailers in the pitch.

Vanessa Buchan, associate partner at Quadrant Estates, the asset managers of the Sauchiehall Building, said:  “We’re delighted to welcome Chilango to the Sauchiehall Building.  It is yet another fantastic brand that complements the existing line-up of leading leisure and retail brands and further reinforces the growing appeal of the location.  We will shortly be launching the marketing of our last restaurant which comprises circa 4,500 sq ft on the first floor of the western corner of the Building, which will also be delivered in March 2017.  We have already received a number of expressions of interest from major restaurant operators regarding this unit.”

As the asset manager Quadrant Estates plans for the Sauchiehall Building will continue to improve the overall vitality and viability of Sauchiehall Street.  It is confident that its ongoing enhancements of the Sauchiehall Building will create an exciting and vibrant leisure hub, helping to attract greater footfall, and put Sauchiehall Street firmly on the map as a top retail and leisure destination.

Andy Ross, Head of Property at Chilango, added: "We are very excited to be a part of this new scheme that is sure to bring a new dimension to this part of Sauchiehall Street not to mention the vibrancy that Chilango will bring to Scotland for the first time with our Stampede of Mexican Flavours!   We are looking forward to opening in 2017 and this acquisition continues our UK roll-out, with further openings planned this year.” 

The Sauchiehall area is set to see further improvement following the opening of two new hotels, namely the adjacent Hampton by Hilton on Bath Street and the Dakota Deluxe on West Regent Street. Furthermore, the location is set to increase its offering to tourists following the proposed redevelopment of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed Willow Tea Rooms and the proposed re-opening of the McLellan Art Galleries.

The recent developments at the Sauchiehall Building and its immediate environs demonstrate Sauchiehall Street’s underlying fundamental strengths – including the highest and most stable footfall in the city and its proximity to the Central Business District, transport hubs, cultural attractions, hotels, educational institutions and student accommodation – which ensure that the pitch remains highly attractive to major national leisure and retail operators.

Paradigm Property Consultants and Montagu Evans advised KKR and Quadrant Estates.  Chilango was represented by CML Property.