Poundworld has confirmed it is opening a second store in Chester city centre.
The bargain basement retailer created 30 jobs in April when it took over one of the biggest units in the Forum Shopping Centre, previously occupied by the Co-op. Now Poundworld is to open in the former USC fashion store which closed last week.
Spokeswoman Louise Greenwell said: “I can confirm that Poundworld will be opening a new store in Chester at Foregate Street next to Marks and Spencer in October. The store will be run as an additional site and our existing store in the Forum Shopping Centre will remain open.”
Poundworld, which was recently the subject of BBC1 documentary ‘Pound Shop Wars’, provides savings on leading brands such as Cadbury’s, Coca Cola and Johnson’s.
The Yorkshire-based company started on a Wakefield market stall in 1997 and now has more than 240 stores across the UK. The family-owned retailer says more than 5,000 products are priced at just £1, offering shoppers a ‘value’ alternative.
A Poundworld spokeswoman said: “Unlike our main rivals, Poundland, which is American private equity owned, we remain 100% family owned to this day, headed up by managing director Chris Edwards and his son and trading director, Chris Edwards Junior.”
USC shut its doors last Wednesday with parent company Sports Direct declining to give the reasons. About 16 staff worked in the clothing store although The Chronicle understands there were opportunities to relocate to other Sports Direct outlets in Chester and on the Wirral.
Staff said the company had not been able to come to an agreement with the landlord over the rent, which was “too high”. They claimed the company was actively seeking another unit in Chester.
