Cardiff: How St David’s 2 shopping centre helped transform city

It was the day that the face of shopping – and much more – changed massively in Wales’ capital city.

A huge new extension opened to the St David’s shopping centre on 22 October 2009, but it also meant familiar old institutions making way for a new, more modern Cardiff.

The £675m development was originally known as St David’s 2, and attracted the likes of Apple, John Lewis, and Victoria’s Secret to the city for the first time.

“I can’t quite believe it’s been 15 years since we opened the new part of St David’s,” said centre director Helen Morgan.

“This was a great opportunity to bring something new to the city, but we also wanted it to be very complementary,” she said.

The new part of the centre – formally known as St David’s Dewi Sant – drew inspiration from many of the old shopping arcades for which the city is well known, especially when it comes its Grand Arcade.

“Obviously, we’re surrounded by beautiful old arcades, so if you look at the Grand Arcade in St David’s, that’s really modelled on the arcades that are already around us. We were just taking our inspiration from them.”

However, to make way for the nearly 1m sq ft (92,300 sq m) extension, some of the old city had to go.

“I think sometimes you forget what was here before, and it’s kind of nice to be reminded,” said Morgan.

That includes the original city centre Toys ‘R’ Us, the Wales National Ice Rink, the Oxford Arcade, and a very dated Cardiff Library.

“It’s been 15 years but it really feels like it’s flown by. I think for some people, it’s like, was that really there before?”

If your memory needs jogging, here’s what Cardiff city centre used to look like before St David’s 2:

Originally opened in 1985, the store on The Hayes was one of just five Toys ‘R’ Us across the UK.

The massive toy store eventually relocated to a new location in Cardiff Bay during the development of St David’s 2 and has since closed.

However, it was once renowned for its huge selection of toys, and was even opened late on 26 July 1988 for pop superstar Michael Jackson, who was in Cardiff as part of his Bad world tour.

Once home to the Cardiff Devils ice hockey team, the Wales National Ice Rink could be found where John Lewis is now.

The popular venue hosted open skating sessions as well as a regular disco – allowing skaters to take to the ice with their favourite tunes.

It also hosted a number of gigs, with Blur, Madness, Kiss, and Meat Loaf among the acts who performed there.

Opened in September 1986, it was a staple for local school trips until it was demolished in 2006.

The first phase of the St David’s shopping centre opened in 1981, but before that, was the very retro-looking Oxford Arcade.

Music lovers will remember it as the home of MVC, with various travel agents, computer repair shops, a Halfords, and a post office found there over the years.

The arcade was demolished in 2006 as part of the St David’s 2 renovation.

A new Central Library was opened in March 2009, replacing the former library on Hills Street.

Its official opening ceremony in June featured the Manic Street Preachers, who sing “Libraries gave us power” at the start of one of their best-known songs, A Design For Life.

The £15m building was built as a community venue, with a large, open atrium and open-plan floors, as well as a dedicated children’s floor.

Although most are now covered over, Cardiff was once the home to several canals.

The Glamorganshire Canal originally ran through the city centre, and was used to transport lime, steel, iron, and coal from Merthyr Tydfil into Cardiff.

The canal followed the Queen Street tunnel in the middle of Cardiff city centre, which crossed Queen Street opposite The Friary, and underneath what is now the St David’s shopping centre.

A section of Cardiff’s former canals was recently renovated to become the Canal Quarter.

More than 100 years ago, the Hayes Bridge could be found spanning the Glamorganshire Canal.

It stood where John Lewis is now, but has long been built over, with the Wales National Ice Rink and now the retail department store taking its place.

The Golden Cross, on the corner of Hayes Bridge Road, is one of the last period buildings that remain in this area.

A new inner city park is planned for the old Debenhams store in the city centre, with St David’s staff waiting to find out whether their planning application has been accepted.

“We’re hoping to get a decision on that by the end of autumn, so very soon,” said Morgan.

“We’re looking to open City Square by the summer of 2026.”