What's the future of Poundstretcher in Ormskirk?

No one seems to know - least of all the manager and his staff who were upset last week when a local builder called into the Church St. store to tell them bluntly: 'This place is being knocked down.'

'This place' is the former Tesco Metro store and for those with longer memories the old Regal cinema; rumours are that Stockton's the landlords want to redevelop it into another bar (!!!) with student housing on top, along with developing the adjoining building which is now empty too - last year the hairdresser there moved to a salon in her own house behind Emmanuel Methodist church to save over £600 a month…

The 'new' Poundstretcher was opened a few years ago by then borough mayor Nikki Hennessy after enjoying a successful trading period as Ormskirk's largest discount shop in Two Saints just round the corner.

After Home Bargain left town for the Hattersley Retail Park, it was keen to move to Moor St. but was pipped at the post by Nordico Bar which is an outpost of the mighty Wetherspoons empire; Nordico isn't doing as well as expected according to some with their finger on the local pub and bar pulse - wouldn't it be strange if they moved out and Poundstretcher moved in?

"That would be wonderful!" said the personable Poundstretcher manager yesterday afternoon.

"Church St. is so quiet and I think we'd be ten times busier in the town centre.

"Either that or move to the old Poundworld store off Burscough Road." he added.

QLocal's Roger Blaxall is awaiting a statement from the Poundstretcher media team.

This news posted recently on Poundstretcher's prospects: https://www.insidermedia.com/insider...ing-conditions

Originally Posted by rogerblaxall

What's the future of Poundstretcher in Ormskirk?

No one seems to know - least of all the manager and his staff who were upset last week when a local builder called into the Church St. store to tell them bluntly: 'This place is being knocked down.'

'This place' is the former Tesco Metro store and for those with longer memories the old Regal cinema; rumours are that Stockton's the landlords want to redevelop it into another bar (!!!) with student housing on top, along with developing the adjoining building which is now empty too - last year the hairdresser there moved to a salon in her own house behind Emmanuel Methodist church to save over £600 a month…

The 'new' Poundstretcher was opened a few years ago by then borough mayor Nikki Hennessy after enjoying a successful trading period as Ormskirk's largest discount shop in Two Saints just round the corner.

After Home Bargain left town for the Hattersley Retail Park, it was keen to move to Moor St. but was pipped at the post by Nordico Bar which is an outpost of the mighty Wetherspoons empire; Nordico isn't doing as well as expected according to some with their finger on the local pub and bar pulse - wouldn't it be strange if they moved out and Poundstretcher moved in?

"That would be wonderful!" said the personable Poundstretcher manager yesterday afternoon.

"Church St. is so quiet and I think we'd be ten times busier in the town centre.

"Either that or move to the old Poundworld store off Burscough Road." he added.

QLocal's Roger Blaxall is awaiting a statement from the Poundstretcher media team.

This news posted recently on Poundstretcher's prospects: https://www.insidermedia.com/insider...ing-conditions

Nordico isn't doing so well? Hard to imagine, it's always busy. A great little bar and a welcome addition to the town.
The poundstretcher on the other hand would be no real loss, there's never anybody In there.

Clearly never been past after 7pm empty all night

Originally Posted by jester01

Clearly never been past after 7pm empty all night

Oh right, do you go past every night? I've been in multiple times of an evening and it's nice and busy.

Originally Posted by minorityvoice

Oh right, do you go past every night? I've been in multiple times of an evening and it's nice and busy.

yep most evenings in fact went past saturday at 9.30 probably 15 people in while all other places quite busy

Originally Posted by jester01

yep most evenings in fact went past saturday at 9.30 probably 15 people in while all other places quite busy

Poundstretcher would do much better if it was laid out in a more 'browser-friendly' layout. The old store around the corner was a great little browse due to its traditional shop layout, with shorter and lower aisles. I often used to go in there for a browse and come out with all sorts of stuff I never knew I needed. The current store, with its full shop length warehouse-style tall aisles, just doesn't have the same feeling and certainly doesn't encourage a good old browse. More like a quick 'in and out' to grab the one thing I venture in for!

Originally Posted by jester01

yep most evenings in fact went past saturday at 9.30 probably 15 people in while all other places quite busy

I find Nordico to be more of a daytime place. We've been in several times during the day and found it quite busy for its size, although the upstairs is quieter than downstairs. Also been in an evening about 7ish for a meal and it was busy then (sizeable knitting club meeting upstairs nearly doubled the numbers!), but it was emptying by the time we were leaving.

I wasn't aware it was part of Wetherspoons? I thought Lion owned the 'lion's' share along with the original independents who started the venture?

Cheers