New Street and Grand Central: A business risk?

Behind the shiny new façade of Grand Central, which stands above New Street station, businesses are risking millions of pounds.

It's a huge risk, but they believe it's a calculated risk, because it will be five times larger than Euston station in London, with 62 shops and restaurants.

On a busy day, the old New Street station saw a quarter of a million people. And it is those people with cash in their pockets that the Grand Central shops and restaurants are interested in. Investing in Birmingham is clearly a bright idea.

Omar Allibhoy, a chef from Madrid in Spain, and his business partners, have spent three quarters of a million pounds bringing tapas to Birmingham.

A big decider is the John Lewis factor - build one and they will come - shoppers and other shops that is.

Nishil Thakrar and his dad, from Birmingham, have been selling their designer clothes online for years, but now they are taking the plunge with their first shop.

An established brand, which will have its products in John Lewis, has also opted to have a standalone store at Grand Central.

Joules saw early that shops in stations are a good idea after opening up at London St Pancras.

With Birmingham New Street's new capacity of 300,000 people per day, all the businesses hope that will mean enough trade to make their risks pay off.