Why there's no cause for alarm over Cole Brothers - just yet - after five years empty
On balance there is cause for optimism but we're probably in for a long wait
The John Lewis Christmas advert is out in a few weeks - seen by some as the unofficial start to the festive season.
Whether you care or not, the hype around it is a sign of the company's status in the national psyche.
And that goes double for Sheffield, where the historic department store on Barker's Pool was a cornerstone of the city’s upmarket retail offer.
That status explains why for years it was central to city centre redevelopment plans. In 2001 it was going to be the anchor to the £600m Sevenstone retail quarter, in a new building on what is now Pound's Park.
When that fell through the city council did a deal to pay John Lewis's rent and offered undisclosed sums for refurbishment, in return for staying open.
It seems mad now but such was the importance of that shop.
Despite this, it closed just a year later, in 2021, in a brutal business decision seen as a betrayal by many.
It's been five years now and people still miss it. So frustration at it standing empty is understandable.
In 2024, the city council sold a 250-year lease to developer Urban Splash. In March of this year the company obtained planning permission for shops, cafes and offices.
It was confirmed this week there are no tenants yet.
This raises questions about whether Urban Splash is doing enough to market it.
For context, the firm is also revamping Park Hill flats, once the most unpopular council housing in the city. It's taken 22 years and it's still not finished.
But last month people queued up overnight to buy a flat in Phase 4 - with the most expensive going for £350,000 - in a remarkable reversal of its fortunes.
And in the empty building stakes, John Lewis holds up well compared to Salvation Army Citadel or the Old Town Hall. It's not sprouting buddleia and the floors aren't collapsing due to a leaky roof. Nor is it regularly invaded by children and urban explorers.
And thanks to events including a disco with Jarvis Cocker last year, it's got a national profile.
But we shouldn't underestimate the task. In 2021, a survey found so many broken and outdated systems an upgrade was estimated at £70m.
It’s been listed since, adding more costs and red tape.
But at least it has live plans from an engaged developer with a track record in Sheffield.
This week we're told up to 12 businesses are interested in moving in. And although Urban Splash says it hasn't applied for any taxpayer-funded grants yet, it has at Park Hill and it's surely a possibility here.
On balance, there is cause for optimism but we're probably in for a long wait - and several more of those cheesy adverts - before it's in use again.