Men's designer clothes shop relocates

STAFF at men's clothing store Capital Collection are celebrating the shop's relocation.

The established designer fashion store has moved from the Freshney Place precinct after 23 years to Abbeygate.

But the move is bittersweet for owner Stewart Margetts, who said it was due to the number of empty shops surrounding Capital Collection.

He said: "We asked for our rent to be reduced but we were told it couldn't be. We had quite a few meetings with the management about it.

"However, we have spent about £65,000 refurbishing the new store and Oscars, which we also own.

"The new Capital shop is gorgeous and all of the collections we have in are brand new."

The store includes plasma screens and even a coffee area, for friends and family to sit and relax while the men shop.

"We want to let everyone know we are here and we have not closed down.

"The shop has even taken on two new members of staff; one to work on our new website, which is soon to be launched, and the other full time in the store."

A spokesperson for Grosvenor, which owns Freshney Place, said: "As a keen supporter of local businesses which actively targets independent retailers to occupy units in Freshney Place, Grosvenor is very disappointed to see Capital Collection vacate the centre.

"Despite meeting with the tenant on a number of occasions to try to encourage them to continue trading, we have unfortunately been unable to reach a long-term solution that is agreeable to both parties.

"There are currently only 11 units vacant out of a total of 108 within the centre, and only four of these are within Grosvenor's direct control."