Cheltenham shops to be filled
The neighbouring Freespirit and Blacks units have been empty since the businesses closed in October and are available separately for rent.
Pete Downing, partner of Downing Bentley retail property specialists, said he believed a deal on the units was close.
He said: "There has continued to be a lot of interest in Cheltenham's Promenade – the street has been holding up very well indeed.
"I am very hopeful a deal will be struck on the Blacks and Freespirit sites by the end of February."
Mr Downing said he could not reveal the names of the interested parties for commercial reasons but said they were "well-known retailers".
Last year the stores' parent company Blacks Leisure, announced it was closing 89 shops across the UK, which had "not traded profitably for years".
Speaking about other units in the Promenade, Mr Downing said more than 20 retailers were waiting to open businesses in the street.
He said: "There has been a lot of interest in the vacant Nationwide unit as well and that could also be filled soon.
"Rental levels on the Promenade in some cases are at a higher rate than they were before the recession."
Mr Downing said the High Street had not fared as well as the Promenade but was still in fairly robust health.
He said: "Rental values on the High Street have slipped back slightly but are still competitive."
Martin Quantock, Cheltenham's town centre manager, said the Promenade was considered to be one of the most prestigious shopping destinations in the region.
He said: "I am not at all surprised to hear that there is a lot of interest in the Blacks and Freespirit sites. They were national chains, which went under and left a gap in what is a very sought-after location.
"I struggle to think of the last time a large unit remained vacant for any length of time on the Prom."
Opinion P8
Comment on this story