3 new retailers are to open in Riverside Retail Park following the recent letting of nearly 30,000 sq.ft. at the scheme.
Maplin the electronics retailer, Sporting Pro and Poundstretcher have all committed to open stores at the Park creating over 75 new jobs for the area.
The rapid expansion of Maplins retail network has taken the store total to in excess of 215 stores in the UK and Ireland, and they sell a unique range of electronics products (comprising more than 15,000 lines in total) for enthusiasts. The broad product categories are Sound & Vision, Computer Products and Hobbies & Electronics and they will be an excellent addition to the retail mix on the Park.
Sporting Pro, the new sports fascia owned by value fashion chain Matalan, is opening in Coleraine as part of its first tranche of stores.
The first ten locations it will open in the next two months. Initially, three stores have opened in Walsall, Coleraine and Harlow and another seven stores are set to open across the UK within the next two months. The retailer aims to open 14 stores this autumn, creating 370 jobs.
Head of Sporting Pro and former JJB chief executive Tom Knight said: “Our first stores are near completion and we’re looking forward to seeing the public’s reaction.”
The shops will feature printed flooring resembling sports courts, pitches and running tracks and stores will be split into categories including team sports, outdoor, racket sports, running and junior and have a strong women’s presence with an “extensive range” of footwear, clothing and sports equipment.
Finally Poundstretcher which is one the UK’s leading discount retailers of products for the home is due to open a new store in November. The discounter has a network of more than 400 retail stores across Britain which stock a wide range of great value homewares, including kitchenwares,quilts and pillows, bedding, bathroom products, home decorations, furniture, electric goods, beds, luggage, pet care products, children’s toys and much more.
Commenting on these latest additions Mark Thallon, Retail Partner at the scheme letting agents TDK commented “we are delighted to welcome Maplin, Sporting Pro and Poundstretcher to Riverside Retail Park, Coleraine and we believe these additional retailer will make the Park an even more attractive location for shoppers. We have worked hard over the past 24 months to target retailers for the scheme that we believe compliment the town and provide the offer that our shoppers want. These new names in addition to the openings last year of Frankie & Bennys and Costa Coffee firmly establish Riverside Retail Park as one of the premier retail locations in Northern Ireland.
We are also at an advanced stage of discussions with an occupier for the last remaining unit and hopefully after this concludes we will be able to put up the fully let signs which is not something many schemes can boast in the current climate”