Skateboarders are giving new life to a massive abandoned department store.

The ground floor of the 1957-opened building that used to house Debenhams in Bristol, southwest England, has been transformed — albeit only temporarily — into Shredenhams, an indoor skate park and creative hub.

Long-forgotten shelving units, timbers and a whole host of other materials that were abandoned and destined for the trash have been rescued and repurposed.

“The bottom half of the old escalators got turned into quarter pipes,” Tim Noakes, of the not-for-profit Campus Skateparks, which is running the venue, told HuffPost. “It’s probably the best metaphor for this whole project — taking something built for consumerism and turning it into something playful and expressive.”

The store closed its doors in May 2021 after Debenhams entered administration, a process similar to going into Chapter 11 in the U.S.

It lay empty as controversial plans to raze and replace the building with a 28-story tower block — including 500 apartments and business premises — moved forward. Those were approved in April 2024.

Campus was approached by the developer soon after with the idea of filling the space with a so-called “meanwhile use” project, to keep it in use until the demolition crews move in, Noakes explained.

“The landlord would have been under significant pressure to have the space occupied and open to the community. … So the relationship worked on both sides,” Noakes said. “We got the chance to bring our vision to the high street, and they got an active, community-focused use for a space that might’ve otherwise sat dormant. It became a proper partnership.”

Work began in December last year. The building, untouched since its closure, was a cold, dark shell without water, electricity or heating. “Honestly, to say it was worse than a car park is an understatement. At least car parks have lighting,” Noakes recalled.

Campus’ small crew in just six weeks transformed what was “a blank concrete box full of leftover retail fittings and dust” into “something full of energy, life and movement,” reusing whatever they found in the abandoned building, saving money while also retaining elements of the store and the city’s history.

“Recycling wasn’t just a cost-saver — it became part of the design language. Everything has a story,” he said.

Campus’ previous projects in the city, at a swimming pool and youth center, were tucked away. Shredenhams, in stark contrast, is in the city center. Pingpong, football and pool tables, pinball machines and a café bar make it the most socially integrated space they’ve created, said Noakes.

June’s launch event drew 300 skaters and was “absolutely wild,” he recalled. “It felt like we’d cracked the code, like we were about to become the hottest venue in Bristol overnight. Then the very next day, a heatwave hit. Footfall naturally dipped as everyone headed outside, which brought us straight back down to earth. But that’s the nature of a new venture — highs and lows.”

Feedback from visitors has been glowing, he said. “We’ve had lifelong skaters tell us it’s the best indoor setup they’ve ever ridden, and we’ve had complete first-timers walk in and feel instantly at home. That’s always been the goal: to build a space that feels open and welcoming, whether you skate or not.”

But managing expectations is key. “We’re still very much in the stage of proving this concept works, both socially and commercially,” he said. “The team has been working incredibly hard behind the scenes, listening to feedback, adjusting our offer, and staying flexible so we can respond to what the community really needs. It’s early days, and we’re learning fast.”

The park is open to anyone 14 and older. Events already have included a graffiti battle, a shoe launch party and regular community days. Plans include live-judged skate sessions, art installations and brand collaborations.

“The space is built for this kind of stuff; we want it to feel as much like a venue as a skatepark,” said Noakes.

How long they’ll be there remains uncertain due to the “meanwhile use” status.

“Maybe 12 months, maybe more. But if we can prove the concept, this might open doors for other spaces too,” argued Noakes, who admitted financial risks but said they were mitigated by keeping costs low, being cash savvy and accessing support “that commercial operators can’t.”

“Some things are worth the risk,” he said.

The bigger idea? “Shredenhams shows that even a dead department store can be reimagined. The high street isn’t dead, it just needs to change direction.”

The major highlight so far? The Skateboard GB “Keep Rolling” event for wheelchair skaters and adaptive skateboarders, he said.

“Seeing accessible skaters using the space in their own way, completely owning it, and feeling welcome … that was huge. It reminded me why we do this,” said Noakes. “It’s easy to get caught up in the build, the branding, the logistics, but moments like that cut through all of it. It was emotional, in the best way, and made me really proud of what we’ve created.”