A town centre store which has been empty for more than a year, will re-open as a new stationery and gift card shop – creating new jobs.
The former three-storey Zavvi store on Pride Hill will open its doors as a Paperchase on May 20, bringing around 10 jobs. A lease has been signed for 10 years and work is set to begin in the coming weeks on fitting the store out.
The Shrewsbury store is one of four new Paperchase stores opening in the UK and jobs are being advertised for a store manager, assistant manager and sales assistants.
The Zavvi store closed in February last year when the company went into liquidation. More than 1,000 people lost their jobs including 11 in Shrewsbury.
Simon Morris, director at chartered surveyors Gooche Cunliffe Whale, which has organised the letting, said: “It’s a big chunk of space in a prime location in Shrewsbury and it has been a shame it has been vacant, but we had to wait for the best deal we could get.”
Paperchase has more than 80 outlets in the UK and sells greeting cards, gift wrapping and ribbons, gifts and designer stationery.
A spokesperson for Paperchase confirmed the company was opening a store in the town.
Peter Bettis, chairman of Shrewsbury Business Chamber, said: “This is great news. It is nice to see national companies coming into Shrewsbury and nice to see employment back for the local people.”
By Charlotte Hester