Tough times mean store site remains unoccupied
THE future of Swansea's forlorn-looking Woolworths building remains a mystery.
City traders are hoping the empty store will bustle with shoppers soon.
But the spacious Oxford Street shop has now lain unoccupied for seven months after the collapse of the high street retail giant, which left dust gathering in up to 806 Woollies stores in the UK.
Uncertainty also surrounds the future of the former Woolworths in Neath, while frozen food company Iceland has moved into Morriston's former Woolies store in Woodfield Street, creating a reported 42 jobs.
It comes as concern is growing at the state of the city.
On Saturday traders, politicians and businessmen and women came up with six ways of "saving Swansea".
Ideas included free parking, the regeneration of High Street and more police on duty.
There were also calls for shops to open later.
But shops opening at all is an issue, at the moment with many standing empty, including the old Gap store and Woolworths in Oxford Street.
Woolworths administrator Deloitte said finding commercial tenants for stores was currently very tough.
A Deloitte spokesman said 180 stores in the chain had been sold, or were in the process of being sold.
"There are three main reasons why this figure is not higher," he said. "Firstly, the amount of retail space available has increased over the past 12 months, following a number of retail administrations and the continued opening of new retail space.
"Secondly, fewer retailers are currently looking for new sites to expand their operations given the tough economic conditions.
"Thirdly, the former Woolworths stores are typically larger than the average retail outlet, meaning they may not be attractive to all retailers."
He declined to comment on the prospects for Swansea's Oxford Street store. It is understood the landlord of the former Woolworths store in Neath is still on the hunt for a new tenant.
Keith Harding, president of the Neath Chamber of Trade, said the council had suggested the building was split into two or three shops, but that the idea was rebuffed.
"It would need a large retailer to take it all on, but Neath is a market town," said Mr Harding. "At the moment the building does stand out. It's a bit of a blot on the landscape."
Dave Kenny, chairman of business group Swansea BID, said traders were hoping to see a big hitter like Argos move into the empty Oxford Street store.
He said: "It's too big for an independent. But we'd just look forward to seeing someone in there. It really is tough at the moment."
A member of staff at nearby Nefertiti Fashions said: "Whatever went there would be a bonus, rather than having an empty building decaying."
2 Comments
by Steve, Mayals, Swansea
Monday, August 10 2009, 5:32PM
“This is such an unimaginative and dull building. Rather than try to prolong its use, I suggest that it be demolished and instead replaced by something iconic or even transformed into an imaginative green space. If Swansea city centre is to survive the decade it needs plans with vision. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing much of these at the moment.”
by Steve, Mayals, Swansea
Monday, August 10 2009, 5:18PM
“Such a sterile and unimaginative building is unlikely to attract much retail interest. Therefore, rather than just allowing it to join the growing list of disused Swansea eyesores, I would suggest that it be demolished and the land used to construct something iconic or even to develop an attractive green space. The city centre needs some imaginative plans if it is to survive the decade, but I don't see them coming at the moment.”