Matalan welcomes back customers in as larger stores reopen

The company is welcoming customers to its shop on the Galleries Retail Park after it closed for eight weeks when the Government announced restrictions due to the coronavirus, with only essential shops remaining open.

Now it has reopened 38 shops, with Washington joining Hartlepool, Darlington and Stockton as other North East branches to relaunch, adding it was “extremely happy” to be serving customers again and welcoming workers back from furlough.

A spokesperson said: “Following our decision to close our stores almost eight weeks ago we’ve been working tirelessly on preparing our stores for reopening with enhanced health and safety measures and strict social distancing guidelines to ensure we offer the safest shopping environment for you.

“Given the change in government guidance on May 1 to include homeware as essential retail in England, we are now pleased to inform you that we are starting to reopen selected stores.”

They added the chosen stores were open following “rigorous in-store testing and consultation with industry bodies.”

The firm added: “These stores will operate with enhanced health and safety measures and be fully compliant with social distancing rules.

“All employees have been trained appropriately and will be provided with full PPE.

“We are very confident that these safety measures go above and beyond the guidance provided by the Government and Public Health England.

“We will initially be re-opening our spacious stores with large homeware departments and a click and collect service.

“These stores are all located on out of town retail parks, with parking outside, enabling us to effectively adhere to social distancing guidelines.

“With our new safety measures in place, we are extremely happy to be back serving families across England, and look forward to welcoming our customers back into stores, and our colleagues returning from furlough.

“We are extremely grateful to all of our colleagues for their huge efforts in caring for our customers and the business, and to our customers for their continued loyalty to Matalan.”

It has said its high street stores, stores in shopping centres, clearance outlets and stores in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will remain closed.

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