Hopes Beatties buyer will ‘commit to Wolverhampton'
A business expert has said he hopes a buyer for Beatties can be found who will commit to keeping the iconic store in the city.
The flagship retailer, which has been a fixture of Wolverhampton for more than 140 years, is up for sale for just £3 million.
It has brought fresh uncertainty for the store which was only saved from closure by Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct less than a year ago when he led the takeover of House of Fraser.
The Beatties building has been owned by a Danish consortium since 2006.
Ninder Johal, a former president of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said he was keen for a buyer to come forward who “will see a future in retail”.
He said: “Clearly the landlords are looking to move the property on. I hope whoever takes the property on from the current owners will see a future in retail.
"If it does, hopefully they can come to some kind of negotiation with the owner of Beatties and Sports Direct on the best way forward for everyone – both parties and other stakeholders in the city.”
