After much gossip, has anyone got a conclusive answer now to who is taking over the old Woolworths store?

When will they move in?

The chaps currently in the Works old store are expanding.

Quoted from 37

After much gossip, has anyone got a conclusive answer now to who is taking over the old Woolworths store?

When will they move in?

http://www.newbury.net/forum/m-1243439455/

Anymore news on this?

Is any EVER going to happen to this vacant store.... It has been almost 6 months since it was in use.

So many rumours but apparently no substance to them.

Why don't we all club together, buy the lease and turn it into an indoor market and rent small open front lock ups selling anything from meat to slippers. I reckon that would suit Newbury a treat. A seven day local market undercover and spacious.

Quoted from brian

Why don't we all club together, buy the lease and turn it into an indoor market and rent small open front lock ups selling anything from meat to slippers. I reckon that would suit Newbury a treat. A seven day local market undercover and spacious.

It is a nice idea, but IMHO the landlords of Newbury are way to greedy. With the pastie folk paying £97k a year, can you imagine what woolies site would be?

Is there any news on the abomination that is the ex-Woolworth store??

Loads of speculation but zero action.

I should imagine that Wilkinsons, like the potential applicants for space at Parkway are reluctant to invest in the current economic climate. Of course if you wish to invest your money in opening a new retail establishment you would be welcome, but I would imagine that even if you were in retail and had the funds that you would take a similar approach.

Quoted from Nobby

I should imagine that Wilkinsons, like the potential applicants for space at Parkway are reluctant to invest in the current economic climate. Of course if you wish to invest your money in opening a new retail establishment you would be welcome, but I would imagine that even if you were in retail and had the funds that you would take a similar approach.

If Woolies couldn't do it, what chance any other trader of that size.

Quoted from brian

If Woolies couldn't do it, what chance any other trader of that size.

Just because Woolies couldn't doesn't mean Wilkinsons can't http://corporate.wilkinsonplus.com/corp/wilkinson_store_openings.asp?SubMenu=LatestNews

Quoted from 133

Just because Woolies couldn't doesn't mean Wilkinsons can't http://corporate.wilkinsonplus.com/corp/wilkinson_store_openings.asp?SubMenu=LatestNews

They probably could but don't seem to be showing much interest in Newbury.

Automatic switching of lights won't do it, that's just a placebo for the greenies and wouldn't even show on the bottom line of such a big store. (probably no better than saving the wages of one member of staff) It's all about attracting customers with the right goods and the right markup in a town that encourages shoppers.

Quoted from brian

They probably could but don't seem to be showing much interest in Newbury.

They're probably waiting for Debenhams to leave the Kennet Centre, they would be do well in there.

Bedtime Story No:1  A Tale of Two Pities - Part One

Once upon a time, many years ago, a shop opened in Newbury high street. It was part of the biggest chain of shops in the whole wide world that started in the USA, it’s name was Woolworths. It was one of the first bargain shops with fixed prices, everything was 3d or 6d, it quickly became very popular.   Over 1000 stores operated in the UK, until the 1970s when they shed about 150 of them. Everything was hunky-dory until the 1980s when the UK section was sold to the Kingfisher Group UK.

According to reports they neglected poor old Woolies and it was nearly all downhill from there, until finally, the crunch came at the start of 2009 when all stores closed for the last time. Many high streets were left with large empty premises in prime spots. Some of them were quickly taken on by other companies and, in one or two cases, determined individuals took up the mantle and opened their own version of Woolies, giving a familiar shop back to the community and jobs back to the staff who had giving them years of service.

There’s not much difference with the Newbury store other than the clash of interests that are holding up the store opening again. News of Wilkinsons, not too dissimilar to Woolworths but offering more variety, leaked out into the local grapevines and spread with mixed reactions. Some were pleased and looked forward to it, others thought it was more of the usual town gossip. Time continued to pass by and nothing happened, even though some believed the deal was imminent. Pity No: 1

Now, the owner of this premises is a sharp businessman and is keen to fill it and start making money from it again. However there were some developers operating in the vicinity who weren’t very taken with having Wilkinsons this close so they made it awkward to complete the deal by causing problems with the rear access, crucial for Wilkinsons very large delivery trucks. Then, lo and behold, another bid was put forward, another one that, although even more attractive to the owner, wasn’t wanted by the developers or the council, they had other ideas and were determined to get their own way. Apart from the poaching, they were cooking up their own plans and everyone began to wonder where it would all end. Pity No: 2

Quoted from Dig of the Stump

.. Time continued to pass by and nothing happened, even though some believed the deal was imminent. ...

I heard this on a monthly basis!

It's such a shame that the owners do not have the vision to look further than letting to one tenant. That building would lend itself nicely to an indoor arcade with lots of small units leading out through the back to the new parkway. The footfall through it would be really heavy with shoppers wanting to go to and from Northbrook Street to Parkway and the right sort of small shops could be attractive to both starter tenants and shoppers alike.

Quoted from brian

It's such a shame that the owners do not have the vision to look further than letting to one tenant. That building would lend itself nicely to an indoor arcade with lots of small units leading out through the back to the new parkway. The footfall through it would be really heavy with shoppers wanting to go to and from Northbrook Street to Parkway and the right sort of small shops could be attractive to both starter tenants and shoppers alike.

These are copies of my posts on the other forum :-

Sep 7 2009,

It's a pity it probably would not work logistically but i have always thought it would make an ideal Indoor Market. Any thoughts !

Sep 7 2009,

I thought it could be on the lines of the one in Bideford ( called the Pannier Market ), with different units inside.

Nice ideas but going by Dig's comment, market type operations would not be acceptable. I imagine the landlord would make enough money without having to pay out money for altering the interior. I can't see anything like this taking place.

Quoted from 133

Nice ideas but going by Dig's comment, market type operations would not be acceptable. I imagine the landlord would make enough money without having to pay out money for altering the interior. I can't see anything like this taking place.

You may be right, but he aint making a lot at the moment and possibly into the forseeable future or at least until his back end is done, if you'll excuse the expression.

Quoted from brian

You may be right, but he aint making a lot at the moment and possibly into the forseeable future or at least until his back end is done, if you'll excuse the expression.

It will be costing him money at the moment, The rates, even at a reduced price, must be pretty high. That's if it's been taken out of the hands of the receivers yet

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/25/woolworths-replacements-british-identity

Threep.


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And what of the old store in Newbury then???

Reading's former Woolworths shop has been replaced with Clas Ohlson, which offers a huge range of homewares, tools and electrical items. Its catalogue is almost Argos-esque in scope, but the shop itself is more conventional (despite an IKEA-like path from entrance to exit), and far more pleasant.

Sadly, with a prime location in Reading I doubt they'd bother to open a branch in Newbury.

Quoted from 37

And what of the old store in Newbury then???

You just read this page didn't you? Go to the bottom of page one.

Not sure it will be Wilkinson as Newbury is not mentioned on their list of store openings.

Quoted from 37

Not sure it will be Wilkinson as Newbury is not mentioned on their list of store openings.

I thought Wilkinsons had pulled out owing to the lack of access for their deliveries?  It might be some while before they can let this shop if Parkway is a problem in this way.

Quoted from 37

Not sure it will be Wilkinson as Newbury is not mentioned on their list of store openings.

They would not publish the location of a store opening until they knew for definite they were going there and the lease was complete

No business would do that, take Vue, they did not put Newbury on their website until a few weeks before they opened

Quoted from 133

They would not publish the location of a store opening until they knew for definite they were going there and the lease was complete

No business would do that, take Vue, they did not put Newbury on their website until a few weeks before they opened

A representative from Wilkinson also said in a NWN article that the company had no plans to open a store in Newbury.

Quoted from massifheed

A representative from Wilkinson also said in a NWN article that the company had no plans to open a store in Newbury.

Must be right then  

Wilkinsons have been looking at stores in Newbury for, at least, 10 years

Quoted from 133

Must be right then  

Wilkinsons have been looking at stores in Newbury for, at least, 10 years

There will be a nice sized one available in the Kennet Centre when Parkway opens.

Quoted from blackdog

There will be a nice sized one available in the Kennet Centre when Parkway opens.

You already mentioned that in post number 11 on this thread

I bet they wouldn't have access problems there.

Quoted from 133

Must be right then  

Wilkinsons have been looking at stores in Newbury for, at least, 10 years

So have Primark

Quoted from brian newman

So have Primark

Not as long as Wilkinsons

Primark aren't as keen as Wilcos.

Quoted from 133

You already mentioned that in post number 11 on this thread

It's known as rubbing salt in the wound.

Quoted from brian

It's known as rubbing salt in the wound.

It's a wonder there isn't a shortage of salt and vinegar in Newbury! They are both sloshed liberally and repetitively into 'wounds'

Quoted from 133

You already mentioned that in post number 11 on this thread

I like to be consistent. Nice to know you noticed though - who have you got lined up to replace Debenhams?

Quoted from 133

Must be right then  

Quite probably, yes. The quote was from Neal Brookes from Wilkinson, who's exact quote was, "We would love a store in the town, but there are no plans for one".

Quoted from 133

Wilkinsons have been looking at stores in Newbury for, at least, 10 years

And obviously not been too bothered by what they've seen. Hence the company spokesman saying they have no plans to open a store in Newbury. There is a difference between a company keeping an eye out on local empty units that might suit their purpose, and actively pushing to open a store. If they had wanted a store in town for the past ten years that badly, they would have found somewhere suitable by now. Every large chain retailer that is looking to expand will keep an eye out for units to let in towns where they dont already have a presence. If nothing else it lets them know what is available to their competitors. I can think of a number of retail units over the last few years that fit the profile of other Wilkinson stores and (if you say that they have been looking for a place for the last ten years) they have let them all pass by.

Quoted from blackdog

There will be a nice sized one available in the Kennet Centre when Parkway opens.

An a nice big one at Newbury Retail Park sooner.

Quoted from massifheed

Quite probably, yes. The quote was from Neal Brookes from Wilkinson, who's exact quote was, "We would love a store in the town, but there are no plans for one".

And obviously not been too bothered by what they've seen. Hence the company spokesman saying they have no plans to open a store in Newbury. There is a difference between a company keeping an eye out on local empty units that might suit their purpose, and actively pushing to open a store. If they had wanted a store in town for the past ten years that badly, they would have found somewhere suitable by now. Every large chain retailer that is looking to expand will keep an eye out for units to let in towns where they dont already have a presence. If nothing else it lets them know what is available to their competitors. I can think of a number of retail units over the last few years that fit the profile of other Wilkinson stores and (if you say that they have been looking for a place for the last ten years) they have let them all pass by.

Who knows, you could be right! I think there's room for doubt though.  About 10 years ago they were very keen on a unit in Newbury, then they took out an ad to test the water on employing staff in the area.  Newbury was obviously flourishing at the time and the response were so poor they shelved the idea for the time being.

You could get in touch with some property people, some of the bigger agents are best, they could tell you what's going on, you don't have to believe me

Quoted from 133

You could get in touch with some property people, some of the bigger agents are best, they could tell you what's going on, you don't have to believe me

It's ok, I'm not bothered whether there is a Wilkinson or not, I was just trying to make the point that the Wilkinson/Woolworths thing is far from a done deal.

Fencer seems to be the one with the Woolworths fancy, seeing as he keeps asking on here and newburytoday.co.uk what's going to happen to the store.  

Quoted from massifheed

It's ok, I'm not bothered whether there is a Wilkinson or not, I was just trying to make the point that the Wilkinson/Woolworths thing is far from a done deal.

Nothing's a done deal until the documents are signed, however close it gets!

I see some grey frames have appeared in the windows of the old Woolworth store...is someone looking to get the store going again soon I ask?

Does anyone know anything about this? Who is the new tenant?

Any update on this?

I hear some work is going on inside.

It's going to be used as accommodation and a training centre for a new breed of highly aggressive Chuggers.

Threep.

Pass the Semtex.

Quoted from 37

Any update on this?

I hear some work is going on inside.

You're obsessed, dear chap.

Wilkinsons walked away because they can't get deliveries in at the back. A poundshop tried their luck, and even offered extra rent, but I hear WBC somehow vetoed it, as it wasn't the right kind of business for an....erm....prime location.

Anyway, glad I'm not the landlord. Now you can see what the impact of Park Way and a recession does.

Quoted from Meddler

Wilkinsons walked away because they can't get deliveries in at the back. A poundshop tried their luck, and even offered extra rent, but I hear WBC somehow vetoed it, as it wasn't the right kind of business for an....erm....prime location.

Anyway, glad I'm not the landlord. Now you can see what the impact of Park Way and a recession does.

That answers that then. You could always ask again in a weeks time Fencer?  

If he had started saving at the start of the thread he might have been able to open it himself by now!!

It's ok, chill out.

I just want to know as the place is making to town look awfully downmarket and those who do seem to be in the know are very cagey.

I was therefore just looking to see if anyone knew the truth and had a conclusive answer.