A major sports retailer is set to open its first store in a coastal town centre this week.
After new signage was installed last month ahead of the arrival of JD Sports in Lowestoft, the 'King of Trainers' has announced its expansion across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
The sports fashion retail giant is gearing up to open four new stores this summer - with 15 jobs set to be created at the new Lowestoft JD store.
It will see JD - the leading retailer of sports, fashion and lifestyle brands - opening new stores in Lowestoft, Cork and Wembley in August and Sheffield in September.
And after JD Sports signs appeared for the new Lowestoft London Road North store last month, a new lease of life is being offered to the prominent former Chadds/Palmers department store in Lowestoft town centre that has been empty for more than four years.
The substantial former department store had previously served generations having stood proudly at 66 to 76 London Road North since 1907.
But having remained empty since March 2020, JD Sports will open its new Lowestoft store this Thursday, August 22.
It is another positive boost for the town centre after recent figures showed Lowestoft's retail unit vacancy rate was the highest in the district - with more than a quarter of shops empty, significantly higher than elsewhere in the region.
With the new 4,010sq ft store in Lowestoft set to be the sportswear retail giant’s first in the coastal town and 407th in the UK, a JD spokesman said: "The new store in Lowestoft has created 15 new jobs, boosting employment in the surrounding communities."
The retail giant will host in-store experiences to engage locals for its opening weekend - with DJs providing the ultimate shopping soundtracks.
It will also see the new Lowestoft store featuring a JD Ballnado game this Saturday and Sunday - with customers able to compete by collecting as many balls as possible, with the chance to win JD gift cards each day.
At the new store, JD says it will ensure local customers are provided with "their fix of all their favourite brands", including Nike, Adidas, The North Face and Under Armour.
James Air, head of group acquisitions at JD Sports, said: "We’re delighted to be opening our first store in Lowestoft this week.
"This expansion highlights our commitment to providing consumers with an enhanced shopping experience and access to the latest sports fashion, and we look forward to welcoming local residents and buyers from Thursday, August 22 onwards."
The Lowestoft store's opening times are Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
For available vacancies at JD visit the JD Careers page.
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