A DEBENHAMS store is set to get a new lease of life in just weeks and shoppers are delighted.
Frasers department store has confirmed it will be opening soon in the Houndshill Shopping Centre, Blackpool.
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The Frasers Group agreed a deal with Blackpool Council, which owns the shopping centre, in November 2022.
The retailer is currently refurbishing the former Debenhams store and is set to open in just weeks.
The Blackpool Gazette reports that the retailer is set to open its doors at 9am on Friday, November 24.
A spokesperson for The Frasers Group told The Sun: “We are excited to be opening a 20,000 sq. ft new concept Frasers’ store in Houndshill Shopping Centre.
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“Offering Blackpool customers the premium and lifestyle brands, as well as a dynamic beauty hall.
“A 35,000 sq. ft Sports Direct store will also open featuring both a GAME and Evans Cycle.
“Both stores will open later this year and mark an exciting time for the Group as we continue to expand our store portfolio across the UK and Europe.”
Shoppers are delighted and have taken to social media to share their excitement at the news.
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One person said: “About time we had a decent department store, can’t wait!”
Another added: “Brilliant, the way to go for Blackpool, more like this needed”.
While a third person commented: “Good luck to the new store, hope it does well, I shall be going to have a look”.
Another local was hopeful that the new store would “encourage those outside of Blackpool” to come and shop in the town.
The Frasers Group is owned by Mike Ashley and includes retailers such as Flannels, House of Fraser, Jack Wills and Game.
It operates some “concept stores” that combine several of these brands under one roof, replacing standalone stores.
The most recent concept store to open was in Norwich’s Chantry Place shopping centre.
As well as the new Blackpool Fraser store, it is also understood there are plans to open a further site in Sheffield.
The new concept stores come after a wave of closures across other brands within the group.
Two House of Fraser stores closed down recently, the Solihull site and the iconic store in the Howells building in Cardiff.
Earlier in the year, the chain turned its Birmingham House of Fraser store into an outlet and also closed its department store in High Wycombe.
The Guildford House of Fraser also closed for good on September 30.
In the past two years, the group has opened nine Frasers stores and has also snapped up other clothing brands such as Choice and Tessuti.
The new concept shop first opened in Wolverhampton back in 2021 and locations have since launched in areas like Newbridge, Belfast, Middlesborough, Telford and Derby.
Other high street closures
The cost of living pressures have shoppers thinking twice before spending their hard-earned on the high street.
This is being felt by retailers who despite their best efforts are struggling to tempt customers through the door.
Many well-established retailers are disappearing from our high streets for good with the most recent being popular discounter Wilko.
Familiar brands such as M&Co and Paperchase also went under and closed all of their UK shops earlier this year.
While discounter ShoeZone is also set to pull the shutters down on one of its stores.
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It is not only retailers disappearing either, many of the major banks no longer have a presence on our high street.
Here we have a full list of banks set to close their doors in October.
