Toys returning to Beatties
Beatties' famous toy department is to be brought back after being controversially scrapped two years ago, the department store revealed today.
Renamed Toy Town, it will open next month in a new location on the ground floor taking up 4,000 sq ft of space.
Shop fitters are now working to create a traditional toy store feel and the grand opening has been pencilled in for September 9.
Beatties manager Paul Sutton, who famously campaigned to save the old toy department in the basement, said it was wonderful news for both the department store and the city.
The new concession will sell traditional toys and be staffed by existing Beatties workers.
Mr Sutton said today: "This is great news for both Beatties and Wolverhampton. A lot of people, including myself, were disappointed when the old toy department closed down.
"Toy Town will open next month, just in time for the Christmas shopping season.
"It will be a real boost to the city - there are not many places people can buy traditional toys anymore, especially since the demise of Woolworths."
Beatties in Dudley lost its toy department at the same time as its Wolverhampton counterpart. However, deputy manager John Whitehouse said today there were no plans to reinstate the toys in the Dudley store.
The decision to close Wolverhampton's toy department was made in December 2007 and the last of the stock was sold in June last year at rock-bottom prices. Toys and games that were originally priced at £15 went for as little as 50p.
There were hopes London-based toy manufacturer Hamley's would open a concession in its place but they were dashed.
House of Fraser acquired Beatties in a £69 million deal in August 2005. Since then, the Wolverhampton store has also lost its waitress service and art gallery.
