JT Morgan move still on, insists finance director
A LONG-AWAITED move by a city centre department store will not take place until next year.
JT Morgan, the oldest independent department store in Wales, has long been planning a move from its existing home in Belle Vue Way to the city centre's flagship Princess Way shopping development.
Fashion retailer Slaters Menswear moved into the £30million Princess Way development in May, followed by Zara over the summer.
But JT Morgan, which closed its doors a year ago, still has to finalise its move.
JT Morgan finance director Denise Road said: "There have been a number of obstacles, but everyone still wants to do it.
"We have most of the money in place, and it will still be an independent and a Welsh business.
"We are really excited about the design and how it will look.
"But we decided not to go before Christmas, because you need so much time to plan for it, and we cannot afford to get the timing wrong."
The Princess Way development replaced the former David Evans store which traded on the site for 140 years before closing in 2005. JT Morgan, which was established in 1918, stopped trading last November, with managers choosing instead to invest in the new premises ahead of the move.
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They said they hoped to keep jobs available for staff to return to when they reopened as the anchor tenant in the Princess Way development.
JT Morgan's directors are due to hold a meeting in December, during which they will decide whether to aim for an Easter opening next year.
The move is earmarked to be the subject of a second fly-on-the-wall documentary featuring JT Morgan.
The business was one of three independent department stores in different parts of the UK to feature on the BBC Four series The Department Store last year, and programme makers are planning a return to see how each has moved on.
7 Comments
by Nathan Thomas, City Centre
Wednesday, December 16 2009, 12:59PM
“I would like to welcome JT Morgan Warehouse's decision for relocating the most oldest indpendent store in the most suitable area - on the former house of fraser site. I can understand about their problem they had in the history which had caused by massive roadwork and it also pulled a lot of customer away from their store. They deserve to have another chance for opening their store in the most suitable place. In my past time, I remembered that JT Morgan used to be very busy store and had attrracted a lot of customers before the road work beguns. Hopefully they could do it again!! Good and Friendly friendly staff and good service.
Nathan”
by jon, uplands
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 11:24AM
“hmm Miss selfrdge is moving in opposite on teh corner,
ive never shopped in JT Morgans and probabaly never will, unless they completely have changed their profile of clothing and products. from pictures of the old shop the stock looked dated and not worth buying. so we shall see.”
by Martin, Bristol
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 11:15AM
“I agree with the other comments. Quite frankly this development needs to be attracting stylish, modern shops which would compliment the existing tennants. Swansea City Council should be actively looking for companies such as H & M and Miss Selfridge to locate there. Why did they chose not to do so? Swansea CC please stop wasting time talking to J.T Morgan - think about the cool image that we need to attract to the city centre.”
by J, Swansea
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 10:37AM
“Unfortunately I think JT Morgan are putting us into a position where frankly we dont really care. Open, dont open - whatever - I am bored of reading about it”
by Jenna, Swansea
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 9:12AM
“I agree with the above comments - I had shopped at JT's for over 30 years and watched it deteriorate over a period of about 3 years until it closed. I do wish JT's well but I don't think for one moment that they will re-start this particular business.
I wonder if the council are behind all the spin coming from JT's management?”
by VERONICA, SKETTY
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 8:17AM
“I agree Gowerview. i watched the documentary. Unfortunately these proprietors are amateurs. They do not have the expertise to run a corner shop let alone a department store. Nevertheless I wish them every success. Veronica. Sketty”
by Gowerview, sa1
Monday, November 09 2009, 10:00PM
“it's a pity the new owners of JT Morgan have dragged their feet
The whole scheme is ever so slowly taking shape but the documentary on JT's new Cardiff based owners did not portray them in a good light”