Retailer Ethel Austin gives empty store new lease of life

By ilewis

ONE of Carmarthen's largest shop spaces is being given a new lease of life yet again.

Retailer Ethel Austin is set to open a store in Hall Street, where Woolworth had been based for decades and, more recently, Hyper Xtra, until its closure last December.

The move will mean it will be the second time that Ethel Austin has had a store in Carmarthen, having first opened at the Greyfriars shopping centre (now Merlin's Walk) in 2004 — only to close three years later.

Vice-chairman of Carmarthen Chamber of Commerce, Gareth Scourfield, said the fact that the shop was being occupied was a positive step for the town.

He said: "It is vital that the town can have as many shops occupied as possible.

"The Hall Street shop is one of the biggest in town and the chamber of commerce would not want to see it empty for long.

"The loss of Woolworth from Carmarthen was felt by everyone, and I think Ethel Austin coming back to the town with a new store can only be seen as a good thing for the town's economy."

The collapse of Woolworth across the UK in late 2008 was seen as a blow to the high street and trading bosses in Carmarthen echoed concerns that the town had lost one of its best assets.

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A total of 110 of staff at stores in Carmarthen, Cardigan, Ammanford and Llanelli were made redundant when Woolworth folded.

While the announcement of Ethel Austin moving into Carmarthen — confirmed by a notice in the former Woolworth building window — has been welcomed, last night it was unclear how many jobs would be created when the new store opens.

No-one from Ethel Austin was available for comment or to give an exact opening date for the shop, which is currently being refitted, however the fashion chain is advertising jobs for the Carmarthen store on its website.

Coincidentally, Ethel Austin opened at the former Woolworth building in Vaughan Street, Llanelli, in November.

It is not known whether the new branch in Carmarthen will follow the Ethel Austin store in Llanelli, which shares the aisles with Au Naturale, specialising in home furnishings.