There were champagne celebrations to mark the return of a top shop to Wrexham.
The new Listers store at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre was officially opened by the Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr Ian Roberts, and his wife, Hilary.
They both have fond memories of the town’s original Listers shop in Priory Street which closed in 1986.
The occasion was particularly sweet for the now retired Michael Lister who founded the successful retail chain.
Listers has four other stores in Shrewsbury, Llandudno and Chester, offering a wide range of home items from kitchens and furniture to bed linen, tableware and gifts.
The family firm is now run by Michael Lister’s son, Mark, along with his brother, Jason, sister, Claire and step brother, Mike Eratt.
Michael Lister was guest of honour at the celebrations at the new store where seven jobs have been created.
He said: “It was always my dream that we would come back to Wrexham one day so I am thrilled that it has become a reality.
“Wrexham has changed a great deal since the 1980s and Eagles Meadow is a terrific addition to the retail offer here.
“The new shop is spot on, I think it looks brilliant and the proof of the pudding is that people are coming here and buying.”
It is a sentiment echoed by Mark who’s delighted by the welcome they’ve received.
He said: ” We’re even busier that we thought we were going to be. We sold lot of gifts before Christmas and then straight after Christmas we started selling a lot of furniture.
“It’s been really good, and everybody’s been really nice. We’ve had quite a few of our original customers coming in as well as the new generation of customers.
“Our customers are the same sort of customers that go to Debenhams, Marks and Spencer and the like so Eagles Meadow is the ideal location.
“It also really helps having the car park underneath so a lot of people who might otherwise have gone to Chester are coming here instead.
“We are extremely grateful to the Mayor and Mayoress. We actually opened the shop in December but it’s nice to have an official opening so that we can mark the occasion properly.”
Cllr Roberts said: “We remember the original Listers store in Wrexham and we have been to their other stores.
“We’re delighted that they have returned to the town because they are going to be fantastic asset to Wrexham, it’s a really classy shop.”
Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley added: “Listers is a truly terrific addition to Eagles Meadow and their return to Wrexham has been greeted with excitement by our shoppers.
“It is a perfect example of our commitment to attracting new businesses which can offer something special to the town.
“They are highly successful brand who are attracting a growing army of loyal customers.
“Their recipe for success is a simple one, great products and great prices that are attractively displayed.”
Go to www.listersinteriors.com to find out more or go to www.eagles-meadow.co.uk for more news about what is happening at Eagles Meadow.
