Iconic retailer TJ Hughes to relocate its flagship store to Church Street in the heart of the Liverpool retail district when it leaves its current London Road home after 111 years. Tony McDonough reports
Discount retailer TJ Hughes will be moving to Church Street in the heart of Liverpool’s retail district when it leaves its current London Road home.
An iconic Liverpool name TJ Hughes has been in London Road since 1912. It grew to become a national chain with 57 outlets. However in 2011 it collapsed into administration and faced extinction.
It was rescued by Anil Juneja and after shrinking to just six locations has now grown again, trading out of 14 stores, as well as online.
In February this year councillors on Liverpool City Council’s city’s planning committee gave the go-ahead for the conversion of TJ’s current home, Audley House in London Road, into 199 apartments.
This led to speculation where its new Liverpool home would be. Now a sign on the front of Audley House reads: “After 111 years we are moving from London Road. We would like to say thank you to all our loyal customers and hope to see you in our new store soon.”
This new store wil be 12-15 Church Street. This was formerly occupied by fashion retailer H&M and sits within a 70,000 sq ft building. It is next door to the Next clothes store on the corner of Church Street and Whitechapel.
In 2018 H&M left the Church Street premises and set up shop in 28,000 sq ft of the former British Home Stores outlet in nearby Lord Street.
Church Street is seeing a number of changes. In the past week Marks & Spencer moved out of Compton House, the building it has occupied since 1930. It has relocated into 100,000 sq ft of space in the former Debenhams store in Liverpool ONE.
In July it was revealed The Vintage Store, located in 12,000 sq ft of the former Topshop premises was to close after little more than a year.
However, in brighter news for Church Street hospitality business Ennismore Dubai-based developer Landlab are in negotiations to bring the Paris-based Mama Shelter hotel brand to the former George Henry Lee building in a £25m project.