Chester fashion store goes from Eastgate Street

Jun 4 2009 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

Chester fashion store goes from Eastgate Street

A CHESTER fashion store specialising in clothes for larger women has closed.

The Elvi outlet in Eastgate Street shut after the parent company went into administration earlier this year.

Elvi, for size 16-plus women, operates from eight outlets and has 19 concessions within other stores.

Early last year, the business was sold out of administration to a private consortium that included former management. The unnamed buyers failed to turn the business around.

Jason Elliott and Gary Bell, of Manchester-based Cowgill Holloway Business Recovery, are joint administrators.

They are aiming to agree a sale that will provide a long-term solution for the business and retain the employees.

Elvi was established as a Dutch wholesaler in the 1940s. Country Casuals bought it in the 1990s, and transformed it into a specialist retailer for larger women.

About 20 people have already been made redundant at its head office in Redditch, Worcestershire.

The closure of the Chester branch follows the demise of luxury accessory retailer Cruise in Bridge Street.