John Lewis at home to open in Exeter and Chester
John Lewis today announced it will open a further two ‘at home’ shops in 2011, located in Exeter and Chester.
John Lewis at home Exeter will be the first new format shop to open in a city centre location and Chester will be the first ‘at home’ to open in the north of England.
With a combined investment of £15.5 million, the John Lewis at home shops in Exeter and Chester will open in autumn 2011. Since the John Lewis at home concept launched in Poole last October, more than 1,100 new local jobs have been created by ‘at home’ shops across the UK.
Andy Street, managing director, John Lewis, said: ‘We’re thrilled to be opening more John Lewis at home shops in 2011 and extending our reach into new regions. The Exeter shop will be the first time a John Lewis has opened in Devon and Chester is the first ‘at home’ in the north. The ‘at home’ format has so far been trialled in out-of-town locations but Exeter will be our first city centre site. We are looking forward to contributing to the development of Exeter city centre and I’m confident the format will do really well in both cities.’
John Lewis at home focuses exclusively on furniture, furnishing accessories, electrical and home technology in a relaxed and inspiring environment. Computer terminals in the branch allow shoppers to browse the wider John Lewis assortment including fashion, beauty, nursery and order for home delivery or next day collection at the shop.
By the end of 2010, John Lewis will have opened an additional three ‘at home’ shops including Croydon, Swindon and Tunbridge Wells. Chester, along with a new site in Exeter will take the total ‘at home’ shops to six.
Both sites in Chester and Exeter are owned by Land Securities. The two-storey Chester shop will be located on the edge of town Greyhound Retail Park and John Lewis at home Exeter will occupy five floors of the former department store building on Sidwell Street.
Ashworth Chartered Surveyors and Cushman & Wakefield represented John Lewis in the two transactions and are retained agents.
