In an unprecedented co-ordinated litigation lodged last month at the High Court, New Look, the Stylo-owned Barratts chain, Boots and five Arcadia-owned stores - Evans, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Topshop and Topman - are suing for almost£2 million for loss of profits.
Arcadia has lodged the biggest claim, for£818,368, with Boots claiming£403,460, New Look£205,505 and Stylo£199,229.
The retailers joined forces after they were forced to close over the Christmas trading period last year. Parts of Castlepoint were closed for more than six weeks on health and safety grounds, after concrete fell from the car park roof.
Arcadia chief executive Ian Grabiner said: 'I am claiming for what I have lost in profit - and I had staff to pay. We did not want to pay rent for the period.'
A second retailer said: 'It was peak trading time with Christmas and January Sales. There were also distribution costs when we moved the stock to nearby stores and staff had to relocate.'
Castlepoint has invited all the retailers with stores at the shopping centre to join a private compensation scheme that will pay out within 100 days in an attempt to avoid legal action.
However, retailers forfeit the right to launch legal action if they sign up to it, and one retailer told Retail Week that he had been unable to agree an acceptable level of compensation with Castlepoint direct.
A spokesman for the centre declined to say whether any retailers had signed up to the compensation scheme.
At least two other large store groups said they were also considering legal action. Other retailers at the centre include Asda, Marks & Spencer, Next and B&Q.
Castlepoint's car park will be rebuilt next year. The spokesman would not confirm whether parts of the centre would be forced to shut again during the work.
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