Woolworths store to get its New Look by Easter
Fashion giant New Look is to move into Cheltenham’s empty Woolworths store within 10 weeks.
Several jobs are likely to be created when the popular clothing chain opens the flagship High Street shop in April.
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Woolworths in Cheltenham
The retailer will rent the 32,000 sq ft building, which has two floors, from Aviva Investors. New Look chiefs will pay £325,000 per annum on a 10-year lease.
The outlet will move from its current High Street site – near WH Smith – to be closer to HMV and the Beechwood Shopping Centre.
The existing store is expected to close when the new one opens at Easter.
Amanda Herron, of New Look, said: “New Look is delighted to have finally secured a re-site in this key market. It will enable us to deliver a full and exciting offer for our customers, the new store will open in time for Easter this year.”
Its unveiling should provide a big boost to other businesses at the top of the town’s High Street, which have been struggling since Woolies closed down in December 2008.
The news of New Look’s arrival was welcomed by staff at the Beechwood Arcade when the Echo revealed the move last year.
A spokesman for the Arcade said: “We have been suffering since Woolworths closed down. Any quality retailer which moved in would be a boost for businesses.”
Estate agent Savills – which brokered the New Look deal – is also hoping to find a buyer for the former JJB Sports store, which is located nearby.
Alan Elstob, director at Savills, said: “The arrival of a major New Look store, together with nearby developments in the pipeline, will reinvigorate this section of the High Street and redefine it as a fashion location.”
New Look sells a wide range of affordable clothing for men, women and children. Lily Allen and Kelly Brook have designed clothing lines for the store.
The Echo revealed last month how the east end of the High Street is also set to benefit from an art house cinema.
Music and DVD store HMV is hoping to screen films on the floor above its shop. The project will be run with operator Curzon and could become a major part of Cheltenham’s world-famous festivals.
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by Terry Edwards, Cheltenham
Saturday, January 16 2010, 2:06PM
“Everytime you spend money in one of these National or International chain stores the local economy is just being continually drained of it's resources. If you spend with local retailers, the majority of what you spend tends to stay within the local economy. With large corporations the money is simply syphoned away to pay big executive bonus's. Vote with your feet and always try and deal with local business's if you care about your community.”
by Bored, Glos
Friday, January 15 2010, 4:47PM
“Glad to hear about this. Hopefully it might help that end of town out, although like others have said the whole high street is terrible.
I did hear rumors that H&M were going into the front of regent but was over a year ago now so that might not be happening anymore.
It doesn't really matter to me to much. I don't shop in Gloucestershire much i go to Worcester, Bristol, Birmingham or London for clothes shopping.”
by Anna, Gloucester City
Friday, January 15 2010, 2:48PM
“We do have a H & M in Gloucester if you really do need to shop at one of these shops.
Feel free to put problems between your Town and my City to one side for the day.
We have a Dockland to look around as well, come to think it you could then go over and have a look at our beautiful Cathedral and make a day of it.”
by sally, chelt
Friday, January 15 2010, 1:22PM
“Sam I agree with you, considering the demographic of Cheltenham you would have thought those retailers would have been attracted I personally travel to Worcester for a lot of my clothes shopping now, but I still love the promenade in Cheltenham, I just think the highstreet needs to catch up because its looking decidedly lack lustre.”
by Sarah, Cheltenham
Friday, January 15 2010, 1:15PM
“Agreeing with many others, I was hoping for a nice large H&M! The Hereford store is fantastic and the space the Woolworths building offers would have been ideal! Never mind.”
by Sam, Chelt
Friday, January 15 2010, 1:09PM
“Sally, you have a point.
The whole High Street needs a make-over. Moving a shop probably won't do much. Lets hope that no more discount junk shops will move into NewLooks old shop site.”
by Sally, chelt
Friday, January 15 2010, 1:05PM
“To be honest sam, when you refer to the that end of the high street as being run down, id go one step further and say the whole highstreet is pretty poor really, it needs a serious make over. Obviously the promenade is still very nice, but the highstreet area is decidedly grim.”
by Sam, Chelt'.
Friday, January 15 2010, 1:01PM
“NewLook might not be known for high quality, or attracting a fine clientele, but I think it's great that this end of the High Street is going to get a shop opening that will guarentee that the other shops around benefit. This end of the High Street has been a shabby mess for years. Lets hope that NewLook now attracts other big name shops to the closed down Sports shops and other premesis.
No High quality name in their right mind would come into that end of the High street at the moment. You have to start somewhere guys.
Onwards and hopefully upwards!”
by MERH, Cheltenham
Friday, January 15 2010, 12:55PM
“H&M, even if it's not the Woolworths building, there should be a big one in Cheltenham - they would make loads of money.”
by Chelt to the end, Chelt
Friday, January 15 2010, 12:12PM
“I was hoping for another mobile phone shop, because there isn't one for at least a hundred yards.
Maybe even a car phone warehouse or something.
Then again there is a dearth of coffee shops too.”