South Shields' Bonmarché to move into former Poundland store in King Street

The women’s clothing retailer has confirmed that it is moving into the former Poundland shopat 100-102 King Street, close to the Market Place.

The original Bonmarché shop is closed while staff move stock into the new unit, which will open on Saturday, June 26.

A large sign in the window says that the new Bonmarché will open at 9am on Saturday and urged customers to ‘visit the exciting new store.’

It comes after a turbulent period for the retail chain.

Bonmarché was saved from closure by the The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group when the retailer collapsed into administration in October 2019, putting thousands of jobs at risk.

The South Shields shop was announced as one of its 30 under-performing stores that would close, but in March last year staff were able to celebrate after it was announced that the shop would remain open.

However The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group then fell into administration themselves in November 2020, following a tough year for the high street due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Since then the Bonmarché brand has been taken over by a consortium of international investors, as part of a wider deal, that will see it led by the firm's current management team.

The former Poundland store, which will be it’s new home, has remained empty since it closed in March 2020, after an issue with rent and a dispute with business rates transitional relief.

It is one of many King Street stores to have closed in recent years. WHSmith, just next door to the unit, closed in October 2020 as part of a restructre to protect the business following the coronavirus pandemic.

Recently the unit has become home to the ‘Community School Clothing Scheme,’ to provide families with free school uniforms for their children.

Department store Debenhams, in Waterloo Square, also shut permanently following the coronavirus lockdown.

Bargain chain B&M is expanding into the unit from its existing premises next door, in the former BHS building.

A £20million bid has been submitted to the Levelling Up fund to move South Tyneside College into the town centre, which would create new facilities and give the area an economic boost.

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