Shops are snapped up at new mall

More than 30 shops at a new mini-shopping mall in Dudley's former Woolworths store have been snapped up in less than a week.

Aldridge-based Plaza Malls has started work on a £1.2 million scheme to convert the Market Place store. In just six days, 33 of the 64 retail units at the mall have been leased.

Managing director Tony Swannie says he is "very excited" about the reaction to the project which will create more than 100 jobs.

"We are so encouraged by the response we have had, I'm very excited about it," he said.

"We have leased 33 shops already in just six days and we have had lots of enquiries about the remaining units. "We have got six bakeries which want to come here and nine cafes. It was a big decision for us to go into Dudley and spend big money on this but we have got a lot of faith in the town and we have been proved right so far."

The complex is expected to be completed by Christmas and Mr Swannie says the finished centre will resemble "a cross between Selfridge's and a mini Merry Hill".

The mini-mall will see the store's old lower ground floor, fronting King Street, reopen for the first time since the 1980s occupying a total floorspace of 35,000 sq ft. Shops will range from 200 to 2,000 sq ft. Plaza Malls is looking to take on a total of nine former Woolworths stores across the West Midlands, although the company will not be taking over the Halesowen branch in Peckingham Street, Mr Swannie confirmed.

The firm already has a smaller shopping centre in Halesowen.

Plaza Malls beat off competition from a 99p retailer to take over the Dudley shop. Mr Swannie revealed when the deal was announced he had tried to take over the former Woolworths in Walsall, but was pipped to the post by T J Hughes.

No planning permission is needed for the new mini-mall as the building is remaining in retail use.