Beales has signed up SEVEN local concessions for its new department store in Lord Street in Southport.
Beales owner Tony Brown praised Stand Up For Southport and Southport BID after successful appeals for local businesses to join the new venture ahead of its opening this August.
He said: “We have now signed up seven local businesses to come in and open concessions in our new Beales store 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.
“Some of them were offering concessions similar to what we have here already, so we have had to say no at this stage.
“We now have everything in place but are still happy for people with great ideas to contact us, and we will add you to our list in case any opportunities become available.”
Shoppers in the region will be excited to hear the names of the firms coming on board with Beales.
Tony Brown said: “We are delighted to welcome Molloys, which will take up the whole of the top floor with a furniture concession.
“We are also looking to open a new cafe on the ground floor.
“We have Plaza Cards, which operates a store across the road from us on Lord Street, coming in.
“We have two ladies fashion businesses coming in, Miss Attire from Ellesmere Port, and the other from Southport.
“They are both looking to go into our other Beales stores as well, so will be expanding their brands through us.
“We have got a gift shop coming too.
“We also have Naked Peak joining us, selling their natural, organic and vegan friendly candles and body products.
“It is great to be supporting local businesses with the opening of our new Beales store.”
Building work and shop refitting is currently going on behind the doors of the landmark Lord Street building, part of the historic Wayfarers Arcade, ready for when it opens in August.
Beales will employ around 40 members of staff and is making a much-anticipated return to Southport following a total investment of around £800,000.
The Beales brand is now owned by New Start 2020 and headed up by Tony Brown, Chief Executive of the former Beales.
Last year he opened Beales in Poole, followed by Peterborough earlier this year with Southport due to be their third store.
Making Southport the firm’s third venture is a huge vote of confidence in the future of retail for the busy seaside resort.
It will undoubtedly act as a catalyst for other businesses to open in Southport, with the news being revealed in the same week that Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group announced its planned conversion of the Grand Casino building further along Lord Street into a luxury hotel and wedding venue.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
