New stores and new jobs on the way to Cheltenham
TWO new stores are on their to Cheltenham, bringing new jobs, discount goods and all things animal.
Home Bargains and Pets at Home are on their way to the Golden Valley Retail Park, next to B&Q in Hatherley Lane, having signed deals to open new shops there.
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Pets At Home is to open at Golden Valley Retail Park
It will be Home Bargains' – similar to the likes of Wilkinson's – first venture into Cheltenham while Pets at Home is opening its second store in the town.
It will continue to operate at its current site, in the Gallagher Retail Park, when the new shop opens in late March or early April.
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Martin Quantock, Cheltenham Business Partnership manager, said the new arrivals showed faith in the town was strong.
"Given the economic situation and the rather gloomy news about Jessops and other retailers finding it very difficult, I think it leaves Cheltenham as still a very attractive place for investors to put their money," he said.
"With those new stores comes jobs and probably that is the most important thing of all.
"The more jobs, the more important for local people."
He said the likes of Home Bargains would not be out of place in regency Cheltenham either.
"Cheltenham has enough room for all ends of the retail business," he said.
"If you look at The Promenade, which has the more expensive shops, it's 100 per cent full at the moment but shops like Poundland are reporting incredible success; it's what people want and I think Home Bargains will do well here."
Home Bargains, which has more than 260 stores across the UK, has signed a 15-year lease on a 10,000sq ft unit and has applied to Cheltenham Borough Council in the past few weeks to start installing signage on the shop front.
It did not respond to the Echo's requests for information about the new store and when it will open, but the company is advertising for a manager, assistant manager and supervisor for the new shop.
Pets at Home, which has over 320 stores, has signed a 10-year lease on a 4,000sq ft unit.
A spokesman for the company said they hoped to open around Easter time and were in the process of getting everything ready before the launch.
The news comes after the Echo revealed yesterday fashion retailers River Island and H&M were opening new stores in the Regent Arcade in the summer.
OPINION, P8
Comments
by dibblebibble
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 8:34AM
“Ooh Home Bargains. I see some good bargains on the "Hot Deals UK" site quite often. It'll be nice to have them nearby.”
by DG9999
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 2:16PM
“Hope "Home Bargains" is as good as "Wilkinson's" used to be before it, cut its lines went up market and became totally bland,and, for the most part, often uncompetitively priced and thus useless.”
by Matt1006
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 9:18AM
“Good to read that these 2 new units have tenants straight away. Although not sure Pets at Home need a 2nd store within a few miles of their existing store - but assume they've done their research and have concluded there is the demand. Time will tell, I guess.
But whilst these new stores are to be occupied, there are other units now coming vacant - Comet, Jessops, The Famous, and quite probably soon HMV. And there may well be other High Street retailers that go the same way before we get too much older.”