Commercial PropertygalleryPictures: The Mailbox during its first redevelopmentBookmarkShareCommercial PropertyByTamlyn JonesBusiness Reporter12:43, 28 AUG 2015Updated16:39, 2 OCT 2015This gallery contains a series of images showing the redevelopment and opening of The Mailbox between 1999 and early 2001. Here, developers Mark Billingham and Alan Chatham (front left and right) with the design and letting team in May 1998 before redevelopment of the old Royal Mail sorting office began1 of 32Photo shows the early stages of work in December 19992 of 32Another shot from December 19993 of 32The well-known Axis building in Holliday Street sneaks into this photo from January 20004 of 32Developer of The Mailbox Alan Chatham on the old sorting office site in Blucher Street in September 19995 of 32Scaffolding envelops The Mailbox in August 2000 while the bold poster was two months premature in its predictions for an opening date6 of 32A similar view shows traffic streaming past on the A387 of 32Abseilers descend the outside of The Mailbox to raise money for Macmillian nurses in October 20008 of 32Site manager Ian Reid braves the weather to abseil down the outside of The Mailbox to raise money for Macmillan nurses9 of 32Paul Underwood, from Alum Rock (left), and Robert Drew, from Northfield, pitch in to help clear flood water from The Mailbox in November 2000 just weeks ahead of its opening10 of 32The Mailbox's now very familiar red exterior is on show in November 2000, complete with a reprinted poster with correct opening date11 of 32A view from the building's apartments just weeks before its grand opening in December 200012 of 32Workmen are busy putting the finishing touches to The Mailbox's front steps and walkway13 of 32More last minute work ahead of the grand opening14 of 32People take in the view from one of The Mailbox's apartments15 of 32The main mall takes shape in November 200016 of 32A hive of activity at both the rear and front (next photo) of The Mailbox17 of 3218 of 32The main mall nears completion in November 200019 of 32Another shot of the old shopping mall which will be sporting a new look following the 2015 redevelopment20 of 32Shoppers peruse what's on offer in January 2001, weeks after the revamped Mailbox opens21 of 32More shoppers in the main mall22 of 32The exterior walkways connecting The Mailbox to the canal network, several years before The Cube also became part of the complex23 of 32A shopper surveys the view of the newly opened Mailbox24 of 32The colourful front steps welcome in shoppers25 of 32Many restaurants and bars have come and gone over the years, including these original tenants from January 200126 of 32Bar Room Bar as it used to look27 of 32Bar Room Bar, sporting a new façade, closed in November 2014 and this unit now houses Gas Street Social28 of 32A bold sign welcomes diners to Fish!29 of 32And inside Fish!30 of 32Another of the orignal tenants - Verde31 of 32And finally, Cafe Lazeez32 of 32