Frasers Wolverhampton move going ahead despite coronavirus crisis
High street giant House of Fraser is pressing ahead with plans to open one of its first concept stores in Wolverhampton's Mander Centre despite the coronavirus crisis.
It was revealed last year that Frasers would be opened across multiple floors in the shopping centre, replacing Debenhams following that store's disastrous short stay in the city.
But the coronavirus pandemic, and resulting lockdown, plunged the already-struggling high street into further crisis.
Mander Centre bosses have confirmed, however, that the plans by Mike Ashley's House of Fraser remain on course.
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The move, which would see House of Fraser leave its current Beatties home in the city, had been due to happen in the summer before the pandemic, and it is not clear whether the current crisis will significantly put the launch back.
The Frasers outlet will be among the first multi-brand stores featuring a mix of billionaire businessman Mr Ashley's retail empire, from high-end Flannels to discount Sports Direct.
Struggling Frasers Group warned in March that the coronavirus pandemic was likely to significantly hit profits - even before the lockdown was imposed. Mr Ashley stated in December that more House of Fraser stores would close in 2020.
Mander Centre manager Richard Scharenguivel told the Express & Star that Frasers are "continuing as planned".
Securing Frasers came as a huge relief to shopping centre managers after the blow of losing anchor store Debenhams.
Wolverhampton's opposition leader, Councillor Wendy Thompson, welcomed the news Frasers was pressing ahead.
She said: "I'm very pleased. It's really important that we are loyal to the city centre and try and do as much shopping as we can.
"Our city centre needs to be vibrant and I'm very pleased to hear the news that it is still continuing.
"It is a real show of faith in Wolverhampton ans residents do appreciate these kind of stores."
