Its a worrying time for Hull City Centre. The CoC has hardly kicked started the economy as was hoped and if anything it's had the opposite effect.
When the quality shops move out so do the people who have the readies to spend in them.
I can see the new Hammonds food court dying on its arse too ( if it ever opens) Town cannot support Trinity Market food hall and this new one so one will go.
Its not a problem just confined to Hull either.
The tinternet and the obsession to move everything, including service industries, to out of town shopping complexes doesn't help, along with the free parking they offer.
I only go in town now before City or for a drink in the old town. Cannot remember the last time I bought anything except beer or sausage rolls in the city centre.
I think you're looking at the city centre with an old fashioned viewpoint. City Centre's aren't predominantly retail hubs anymore - I think I go into Hull City Centre more for food, drinks and cultural events (such as gigs, theatre, sports, festivals etc) than I do for shopping.
A lot of the old shopping areas are being converted to office and residential space, which will bring in more people to the centre to sustain the rise in eateries. Trinity Market was already doing well - imagine what lunchtime food businesses in that area are going to be like just with the relocation of ARCO's HQ.