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What future for Scarborough's old Woolworths store?
A YEAR has now passed since Scarborough's Woolworths store closed its doors for the final time – and it is doubtful those doors will be opening again soon.
The store shut up shop for good on Saturday January 3 2009 after administrators failed to find a buyer for it and the other 800-plus Woolworths stores nationwide.
Around 60 Scarborough jobs were lost as a result of the closure.
The last three weeks of trading saw what has been described as the "sale of the century" as the chain declared everything must go, even the fixtures and fittings.
On the final day, once all the stock had been cleared, staff in Scarborough were moved to tears when one anonymous shopper bought a lucky dip lottery ticket for every member of staff as a farewell gesture.
Twelve months on and the store in Westborough still remains empty, despite retailers moving in to former Woolworths sites in neighbouring towns and cities.
In April Star Buys moved in to Bridlington's empty Woolworths store, creating around 20 local jobs. The following months saw Scottish-based outdoor clothing giant Outdoor World open two stores, Wilderness and Pine Valley, on both floors of Whitby's vacant premises.
Boots acquired former Woolworths stores in both York and Beverley, while Hull's store reopened as a fashion and homeware store after retailer Ethel Austin and its partner Au Naturele moved in to the vacant lot.
Cllr Derek Bastiman, portfolio holder for Strategic Planning and Regeneration at Scarborough Council, said: "I am very concerned about the number of empty shops in Scarborough's high street, and particularly disappointed that no-one has moved into the former Woolworths site.
"We have had a lot of interest in the site over the last year but we have not had anyone commit to it, which is very disappointing as it is a lovely town centre location.
"However I am ever hopeful that this year we will see a retailer of quality in there."
In May last year there was speculation that high street fashion chain Peacock Clothing, which owns more than 500 shops and employs around 5,000 staff nationwide, was in talks about opening a branch at the former Scarborough Woolworths. However the firm would not confirm the move.
There were also suggestions that discount clothing giant Primark may be moving into the premises. However, although Primark confirmed it is interested in opening a store in the town, it said the Woolworths town centre outlet was not big enough to fit its requirements.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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