One becomes two on Stamford’s High Street

Two retail operators are preparing to open in the former premises of trader Wilko, which closed its Stamford store on the Lincolnshire market town’s High Street two years ago.

As letting agent, we can announce the new operators as Magnet - the fitted kitchen and design experts - and clothing company, Weird Fish which will each occupy a separate, self-contained retail unit following the extensive re-modelling of the property by Eddisons’ client, a private property developer.

From the former Wilko unit at 44 High Street of 7,300 sq ft, a new look unit of 4,930 sq ft spanning two floors has been created and one totalling, 2,370 sq ft of retail space just at ground floor level.

Magnet’s showroom will trade from the unit with the two floors, now known as 44a High Street - where the former property’s feature staircase has been retained - with Weird Fish taking the lease of the new standalone, ground floor unit, 44b.

Gavin Hynes, of Eddisons’ Peterborough office, who represented the developer in the transactions with the retailers, commented, “Stamford has emerged as a retail hot-spot in recent years and the reinvention of the property at 44 High Street to become two viable retail units attracted more commercial interest than the one, larger, former Wilko premises was going to.

“Following the finishing touches to fit outs currently being conducted by the retailers, their newly created units and the two very modern, contrasting businesses are set up to add to the town’s premium retail profile.”

Magnet was represented in the transaction by Orme Property, with CBRE acting for Weird Fish.