A BRAND new store in the former Llandudno Woolworths site is hoped to boost trade in a “struggling” part of the town.
The unit on Mostyn Street, which has been temporarily filled with a book shop for the last 15 months, will re-open on August 13 as an Alworths store, creating 12 new jobs for Llandudno.
The national chain was created by Andy Latham, ex-Head of Store and Concessions Development at Woolworths, with fellow Woolworths colleagues in November 2009, selling a variety of goods ranging from entertainment products and sweets to household goods.
Mr Latham said: “We’re really excited to be launching in Llandudno. This is our eleventh store and our first in Wales, so we hope it will be well received by the local community."
The news was welcomed by Mayor of Llandudno, Ann Yates, who hoped more businesses would be encouraged to fill empty units in the area.
She said: “It’s fantastic news - especially at the top end of town. Businesses were struggling and getting a little bit down hearted because of the emptiness, because it looks like nobody cared. That's why the Town Council were desperately trying to do something, and now it's happening. It will help revitalise that end of town."
Cllr Yates said Woolworths closing in 2009 had a detrimental effect on trade near Upper Mostyn Street, and the opening of the Alworths would mark a turning point for the town.
She added: "When you look at what it did when Woolworths went - a long standing company - and how sad it was. It was a part of people’s lives. Then it was loaned to a book shop which was good because at least there was life. But now, coming back to being a strong store, I think it is positive news.”
A spokeswoman for Publisher’s Book Clearance (PBC), who had been on a temporary lease at the Woolworth site, confirmed they still had interest in Llandudno as a retail destination, and said they would have “loved” to have remained on Mostyn Street for the summer.
But issues affecting existing traders in the town would have to be monitored before the company returned.
She added: “Footfall and high business rates were an issue. The footfall has definitely changed - it appears in Llandudno the footfall has shifted from one end of the town to the other. We’ll keep on looking for a suitable store there - we certainly aren't abandoning Llandudno.”