Alworths - the new general store chain which is run by former Woolworths head of store and concessions development, Andy Latham - has signed up in Evesham as part of a wider roll out.

Alworths opened its first store in Didcot, Oxfordshire. It plans five more this year in Aversham, Evesham, Warminster and Wokingham. It plans 22 stores in the next 12 months.

In Evesham it has signed at AXA Real Estate Investment Managers’ Riverside Shopping Centre. The retailer has agreed to take the 9,000 sq ft former Woolworths unit on a long term lease. The store is scheduled to open on 19 November.

Completed in 1989, the 110,000 sq ft Riverside comprises almost 40 units. Tenants include New Look, JD Sports and Burton plus a wide range of local independent traders.

Duncan Mathieson - managing director of Realis Estates, which asset manages the scheme on behalf of AXA Real Estate Investment Managers – said: “Our strategy at Riverside is to combine the best high-street names with a broad range of high-quality independent and up-and-coming stores. The Alworths deal is a perfect fit with this philosophy and helps strengthen our offer just in time for the pre-Christmas trading period.”

James Honeyman, Asset Manager at AXA Real Estate Investment Managers, said: “Alworths looks set to have a bright future. The arrival of Alworths is great news for the scheme and provides a welcome boost to the whole of Evesham.”

Andy Latham said: "This will be our third store and we hope it will be well received by the local community. Alworths will be a local department store on the high street with a great range of products at value for money prices.”

Rowley Hughes Thompson and Douglas Stevens are letting agents for Riverside. Downs Leat Marshall acted on behalf of Alworths.

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