60 new jobs as bar and top name stores announced for Swansea
AN exclusive French chain is opening its first UK store in Swansea — because it wants to be part of the city's "vibe".
New clothes shops and a bar are also opening, with more than 60 new jobs set to be created.
National chains Country Casuals and Viyella will be launching a new store at the Princess Way development on Saturday.
French shoe shop chain Roberto Durville will also be opening a store at the former David Evans site in the spring — its first UK store.
Roberto Durville will start fitting out its store in the new year to sit alongside its existing outlets in Paris, Nice and Toulouse.
Its founder and namesake said: "We were looking for a base in the UK that has roughly the same population and demographics as Toulouse and Swansea is a good fit for our brand.
"We visited the city when we were looking for a UK location, and were very impressed.
"There's a vibe in Swansea at the moment because of so many exciting redevelopment projects, and that's something we want to be a part of."
Swansea's Quadrant shopping centre now has retailers trading in 38 of its 39 units.
Animal has recently opened in the Quadrant as well as Schuh and Hawkins Bazaar.
Negotiations are now underway on the final vacant unit, near the Officer's Club in the centre.
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And on Wind Street husband and wife team Andrew and Claire Beal are putting the finishing touches to The Peppermint Bar which will officially open for business on Wednesday at the site of the former Que Pasa restaurant.
Mr and Mrs Beal have hired manager Bruno Nunes, who ran Revolution on Wind Street for five years, to take care of their new venture. Mr Beal said the business was an opportunity not to be missed.
The Peppermint Bar will be run over two levels with a bar and dining area on the ground floor and a full table service lounge with a night-time food menu upstairs.
Swansea's Lord Mayor Alan Lloyd will open Country Casuals' new store on Saturday and shop manager Gail Morrell said Swansea needed a store with the level of prestige associated with the brand.
She said: "There are a lot of new stores in that area. Country Casuals is a good name in that price sector.
"There are a lot of companies that are going to be approaching developers for other units."
Swansea Council leader Chris Holley said the arrival of the new stores was a "terrific early Christmas present for the city centre".
He said: "This is great news for Swansea and great news for local people in the countdown to Christmas. The new Princess Way development is starting to show what a successful project it is, attracting a new kind of retail shopping experience.
"In these tough times the latest investments are a boost to our economic confidence."
Councillor Gareth Sullivan, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Economic and Strategic Development, said Swansea is bucking the trend.
He said: "This news will strengthen Swansea city centre's reputation as the regional shopping centre of South West Wales."
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by Stephen G, Swansea
Thursday, December 03 2009, 8:54AM
“Steve Jones
ictable
You are right. I have almost given up reading this site - the moaners and whingers are just too tediously predictable. There are only about a dozen of them - perhaps Swansea Council should pay them to move to Llanelli or Port Talbot”
by Achmeds, Uncle
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 8:09PM
“I possess two feet so two shoes would suffice,one left one and a right one, a matching pair in my eyes.
I have no need to peruse a throng of shoe shops as i only need a one pair, I prefer black to brown , preferably slip-ons as no laces to tie, Oh silly me, i have those shops available to me already. I have no need to pay extra to have a label on it saying it bought from x y or z shop.”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 7:56PM
“Re:Dai, Swansea
Same old Dai, same old moans and same Scrooge!”
by Steve Jones, Uplands
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 12:56PM
“Gowerview, sA1 - what you suggest costs money and Swansea doesn't have any. Private companies don't want to put the money up because they would rather go to a town that welcomes them.
People in other towns are happy when new shops, restaurants, bars, etc are opened. In Swansea you just get complaints that the shops are overpriced. A Happy Shopper, Swansea correctly pointed out, most Swansea residents are happy with a pound shop.
So if there is a major regeneration, what shops would you like to see? I can guarantee that most people on here will complain whatever they are. And why would those shops want to come with so many moaners living in the city.”
by Dai, Swansea
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 9:39AM
“RE - angelo, france.toulouse. - hello I am talous latrec from the civic centre swansea - nice of you to write in.
Another of Councillor Holley's stooges - perhaps old james sheridan in disguise????????”