Business

Is wonder of Woolies set to return?

October 13, 2009

The vacant Woolworths store could be home to picture frames and pick n’ mix once more after a breakaway company of the defunct high-street chain earmarked Wokingham for a comeback.

Alworths, the brainchild of Woolworths’ former head of stores and concessions, Andy Lytham, wants one of its three flagship stores to open in the vacant premises in Peach Street – and its doors could be open as early as next month.

The news comes just a week after The Wokingham Times reported how the empty unit could be filled by Christmas after an unnamed tenant put forward an offer.

Alworths, dubbed ‘the son of Woolworths’ within some retail circles, is understood to stock items similar to those that made the once-thriving company a favourite with shoppers.

Mr Latham intends to open the Wokingham store, and two others in Didcot, Oxfordshire, and Faversham in Kent on Thursday, November 5 – the day Woolworths would have celebrated the 100th anniversary of its very first shop being opened in Liverpool.

The company is also likely to be run by a large number of the 30,000 employees who were made redundant when Woolworths went into administration last year.

Chris Deerley, former manager of the Woolworths in Wokingham, believes the opening of Alworths would provide a welcoming boost to the town’s footfall.

He said: “I think it would be good for businesses operating on the Woolworths site and the town centre because it would bring a lot of footfall to the area.

“It is definitely good news because bringing in a concessionary store will help increase footfall margins and hopefully bring more shoppers to the town.”

He will not be returning to the store himself as he has recently started a new job but believes some of his colleagues will want to return to their former store.

The pending return of the shop has also sparked discussions on the internet networking site Twitter.

Users across the borough say they are encouraged with the news about a possible return, with some labelling the idea as “interesting” and “excellent.”

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I would be grateful if you could advise me if you have a contact telephone number for anyone connected with this as the Town Mayor would like to do an official opening of the store. Please call Nicola Payler on 0118 974 0882 to advise me if you have any details. Many thanks