PHOTOS show the inside of Weymouth town centre’s new Range store – as one shopper claimed the opening was ‘huge for the town’.
The Range opened its doors at 9am yesterday within the former Debenhams building on New Bond Street.
More than 80 jobs have been created at the new store, which local business leaders said will provide a major boost for the town's economy.
Staff members have been 'working round the clock to get everything ready' ahead of its opening. The Range's signage has been installed around the store with posters advertising its deals inside.
The new store is spread over two floors and will cover more than 45,000 sq ft of space. Its Costa branch, which also closed when Debenhams shut, has reopened for takeaway following a refurbishment.
Walking around the store’s ground floor, shoppers are able to browse and purchase home décor, lamps, as well as tableware, snacks and other homeware.
Following the escalators upstairs, there is furniture, garden accessories, arts and crafts, toys and pet care products. A number of paddleboards and surfboards are also for sale, with a prominent display within its first-floor window.
To celebrate its opening, The Range is running exclusive offers in-store until Sunday, May 16.
The Range can either be accessed via its ground floor entrance on New Bond Street or via the Britannia Car Park.
Shoppers waited patiently and followed social distancing guidelines outside the new store before the doors opened and a staff member welcomed them all in one by one.
The first shopper in the queue, Marie Sommer, was thrilled to see the new store and wished it every success.
She said: “This is huge for the town. I really hope it does well and shoppers like it.”
Speaking to customers as they left the store, many were impressed with the size and layout of the new Range.
One said: “I am amazed with how much is in there yet it doesn’t feel too claustrophobic or crammed with stuff.
“Everything is well spaced out and things are easy to get to.”
Another customer said: “I was sad to see Debenhams go but I am glad it’s been replaced so quickly after it shut.
“It’s great to see something big like this in the town centre. A lot of people seemed happy inside.”
The store is open 8.30am-8pm Monday to Saturday and 10.30am- 4.30pm on Sundays.
A spokesman for The Range said: "The new Range store has brought over 80 full and part-time jobs to the local area.
"This positive news during such testing times for the retail sector is sure to be welcomed by the local community in Weymouth and surrounding areas.
"In line with Government guidelines, the new store in Weymouth will open with safety measures in place to protect both staff and customers, including sanitising stations at the entrance, social distancing markers and card payment preferred."
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