New lease of life for city store
ONE of Newcastle’s biggest shops is set for a new lease of life after a Northumberland firm revealed plans for a new venture.
W&M Wholesale is to take on popular discount clothing retailer Primark by opening People’s Price in the huge empty store next door, transforming it into a three-floor shopping haven.
The former Outfit shop on Northumberland Street in Newcastle city centre has lain empty for more than a year, after tenant Arcadia Group announced it was quitting the site last May.
As the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on the high street retail sector, with national chains announcing store closures and job losses, W&M Wholesale, based in Cramlington, Northumberland, aims to buck trends with the new brand, which will specialise in clothing, footwear and accessories for all ages.
People’s Price will take over the basement, ground and first floor of the fivefloor building, keeping the second floor for expansion if needed while using the third floor for storage.
It’s not yet known how many jobs the new venture will create, but an opening date is set to be revealed soon.
The firm said: “The store will range clothing, footwear and accessories for all ages at unbeatable prices and great value.
“We are a North East-based business, and the opportunity to retail in the heart of the region by locating the store in the main shopping street in Newcastle is what drives us as a business.
“The store will offer a vast range of men’s, women’s and kids’ clothing, footwear and accessories which will all be at unbeatable prices and great value to all. This range will be constantly updated with great deals in line with the season and popular trends.”
W&M Wholesale also operates the Start Fitness and Start Cycles brands, but the firm stressed People’s Price represents a completely new and unconnected venture for the business.
The opening will also mark a new era for the prominent Northumberland Street property, which has only been home to national chain retailers until now.
People’s Price representative Ian Angus of North East based Property Consultants @retail, said: “It’s wonderful to see a locally based retailer follow in the footsteps of such High Street stalwarts as Next, BHS and Arcadia’s Outfit Store in occupying these premises.”