New retail blow for town
First it was Waitrose...
■ STAFF at Ashbourne’s Bargain Buys store, in the town’s former Waitrose building, have been told it will close next week if alternative premises cannot be found.
STAFF at Ashbourne’s Bargain Buys store have been told their shop will close next week if alternative premises cannot be found.
Poundstretcher, which owns the Bargain Buys brand, has not responded to the News Telegraph’s repeated calls for clarification on rumours that the store is shutting down - but a source has told us that staff have been given notice their jobs will cease on Thursday, December 10.
It is understood that bosses are rushing through negotiations with the owners of the former Countrywide store, in Waterside Park, and it is hoped the firm could relocate its Shaw Croft shop and reopen in time for Christmas.
According to our source, staff are due to be called into one-on-one meetings today to discuss their future, and the future of the brand in Ashbourne.
The News Telegraph has made several approaches over telephone and email to Leicestershire-based Poundstretcher to ask for confirmation on the closure plans, and how many staff jobs would be affected, but we have had no responses.
Meanwhile a sale has been running in the Shaw Croft Centre store, as Bargain Buys prepares to leave the building next month, following a closure on Thursday, November 26.
The company opened its store almost exactly one year ago, to a chorus of “Agadoo,” with Black Lace singer Dene Michael brought in to serenade a handful of passers-by.
The ribbon was cut on December 10 by Ashbourne’s former ormer mayor, Ann Smith, and the first shoppers rs through the door r were offered a string of discounts on products including electric fires and double beds.
The store filled an empty unit that t had been vacated d in the summer of that hat year by premium m supermarket permark chain Waitrose, which had occupied the building for nine years. ye
Although Waitr rose handed over t the keys to Bargain B Buys on the day of its departure, it took several months for work to start on deve veloping what would bec become the country’s 80th Bargain B Buys store. Bosses at the time said
they had had to carry out extensive renovation work and they finally started fitting out the shop in November, taking just three weeks to complete the job.
The troubled agricultural supplies firm Countrywide closed its Ashbourne store – tucked away in the northern corner of Waterside Park - in 2018 and the building has stood empty ever since.
It had been rumoured that frozen food giant Iceland was eyeing up the vacant store but the firm has notconfirmed or denied their interest.
It is understood bosses are rushing through talks with the owners of the old Countrywide store, in Waterside Park.