A busy shopping centre in North Wales is celebrating the arrival of a hat-trick of new stores.
The latest tenant at Eagles Meadow, in Wrexham, is the long-established Ragazzi fashion shop while outdoor clothing specialists Trespass are on their way soon.
They’re both hot on the heels of the successful family run home furnishings chain, Listers, who opened earlier this month, just in time for the Christmas rush.
Ragazzi has relocated from St George’s Crescent, making room for a Thai food takeaway.
The fashion shop has moved into the former SuSu’s unit near the Yorke Street entrance to Eagles Meadow.
They specialise in designer labels like Barbour, Fred Perry and Lacoste and have built up a loyal customer base since the business was founded in 1993.
Andy Burson, the owner of Ragazzi, is delighted with their new home which is part of their plan for future expansion.
He said: “These are very exciting times for Ragazzi. I think it’s a good decision for the business to move to Eagles Meadow, it’s a positive step forward.
“One of the main factors for choosing Eagles Meadow was the amount of passing trade, giving our brand more exposure.
“Eagles meadow added an extra dimension to Wrexham as a retail destination, extending our reach as a shopping destination.
“Our plan at Ragazzi is to grow our offer really and we have the space to do so with three rooms, which means we can segment our ranges.
“Ultimately, we will be looking to increase staff levels and take on a couple more people.”
Kevin Critchley, the manager of Eagles Meadow, was thrilled to welcome the new business to the shopping centre.
He said: “It’s wonderful. It shows that we’re actually growing and we’re still attracting retailers and customers to the centre.”
“With a Thai food takeaway moving into Ragazzi’s old premises, this is a win-win for Wrexham.
“Ragazzi is a well-established brand and their range belongs in Eagles Meadow. I think they will do very well here as will Listers and Trespass.
“Their arrival just before Christmas is timely and adds to the diverse mix of high street favourites and independent store in Wrexham. You might say, they are our Christmas crackers.
“Since Eagles Meadow opened in 2008, we have helped generate a net increase of 1,000 jobs in Wrexham and we’re very proud of that.
“The Eagles Meadow offer, combined with the rest of the town, means that we’re punching well above our weight.
“I think that Wrexham has got a retail offer that can compete with anywhere but the larger cities – we are undoubtedly the shopping capital of North Wales.”
