By Andrew Brown
These exclusive pictures show a first look inside the new Beales department store in Southport as it prepares to open this Thursday (12th August).
Feverish work is taking place behind the scenes to ensure a warm welcome to customers at 9.30am at the iconic shop on Lord Street.
The much-anticipated event is sure to be a busy one, with free gift vouchers of up to £200 for the first 150 people through the doors.
These photos give a glimpse of some of the many brands that people can enjoy in the new look Beales, which maintains the best of the old Beales with plenty that is new and exciting.
Many of the former staff members are returning to the new Beales. The layout of the store will be similar, although the cafe – Remedy at Beales – will be on the ground floor with beautiful views into Wayfarers Arcade instead of being tucked away on the top floor.
The biggest difference is that the new Beales will host a number of local concessions.
Molloys, which has operated in Southport for many years, will host a furniture section on the top floor.
Plaza Cards, which has a store on Lord Street, will also feature, as will Naked Peak, which sells natural, organic and vegan friendly candles and body products.
Fashionistas, both men and women, will be delighted with the new concessions at Beales.
Ladies will love Lucy Lou’s Boutique, a ladies fashion shop currently based in Churchtown which stocks the latest trends on the high street.
Joining them will be Miss Attire, from Ellesmere Port.
Forever New will offer effortlessly wearable and timeless collections that celebrate modern femininity from a fast-growing firm which was founded in Melbourne in Australia.
For men, fashions in store will include Jack Jones, Craghoppers, Carabou, and others.
The store will feature a number of departments, including: the biggest shoe outlet in Southport; luggage, electrical, seasonal, bedding, bathroom accessories, gifts,
Shuropody, the UK’s largest provider of podiatry services, will bring the latest technology and expertise for a number of treatments.
The new Beales in Southport will be the third department store in the firm’s portfolio after the opening of a store in Poole in Dorset last year and a second in Peterborough earlier this year.
Beales in Southport will create 40 new employment opportunities with a total investment of around £800,000.
The Beales brand is now reborn, owned by New Start 2020 and headed up by Tony Brown, Chief Executive of the former Beales. Before Beales, he was a Retail Director for BHS, which at the time had a department store on Chapel Street in Southport. He is delighted to be back in the town.
He said: “I have had a retail connection to Southport for 20 years now, with both BHS and Beales.
“This store on Lord Street was one of my favourite stores under the old Beales brand.
“This is a new concept we are launching here in Southport now, which will be 90% concessions. “We are very excited about some of the brands coming in.
“I honestly believe that customers want a local department store here in Southport.
“Thanks to all the appeals through Stand Up For Southport and Southport BID, we now have seven great local businesses on board, and also had a lot more than that contacting us who were keen to get involved too.”
- Beales on Lord Street in Southport opens at 9.30am this Thursday, 12th August. To celebrate, they are giving the first 150 people through the doors a free gift voucher worth up to £200. You can spend this on anything you want, but it must be used on Thursday 12th August only. Voucher values available are £200, £50, £25, £10 and £5.
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