TJ Hughes to create 80 jobs with Preston reopening

British department store TJ Hughes is set to make a triumphant return to Preston this autumn, creating over 80 jobs at the town’s Fishergate Shopping Centre.

The owner of the retail and leisure complex, private equity real estate fund manager Benson Elliot, has announced a new deal that will see TJ Hughes move back into its original 33,000 sq ft premises.

Following an absence of five years, the department store will occupy the two-level space on a 10-year lease.

The project represents the latest stage in a plan to rebuild the group as a national chain – a commitment made after the company was acquired by Lewis’s Home Retail in 2011.

Benson Elliot’s director of retail, Peter Cornforth, said: “It is great to welcome TJ Hughes back to the Fishergate Shopping Centre along with the jobs that it is creating on its return.

“The return of TJ Hughes is a sign of the confidence the retailer has both in the Fishergate Centre and in Preston city centre as a shopping destination.”

The Fishergate Shopping Centre is currently home to a number of blue chip retail brands, including Primark, Debenham’s and TK Maxx.

TJ Hughes’ managing director Anil Juneja, who is spearheading the efforts to revitalise the company, said: “I’m delighted to announce that TJ Hughes is returning to Preston and to its original premises.

“It’s fantastic news for the town and local economy. We’re really looking forward to seeing people back in the store.”

When it opens in mid-October after an extensive refurbishment, the Preston outlet will be the 19th TJ Hughes store relaunched by Lewis’s Home Retail.

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