The UK’s first Millstores – which sells furniture, homewares, bedding and more – has opened in Cleveleys.
In what was planned as a soft launch, shoppers were queueing before the doors opened at the new 13,000-square-foot store situated on Nutter Road, formerly occupied by Wilko.
Simon Yates, co-owner of Millstores, said: “It’s standard practice to open quietly. It helps you iron out any issues before the major opening. It’s called a ‘soft launch’ in the trade. But with over 1500 shoppers, today was anything but a soft launch! We had hundreds of people in the store!
“We wanted to let Cleveleys residents be the first to experience Millstores. We’ve been planning and training to transform the store into something special. We are so grateful to everyone who visited us and the staff team who coped admirably. It’s been an amazing day!”
This new venture by Simon Yates and Jon Addis, who own Ena Mill in Atherton and The Courtyard in Tarleton, marks the strategic expansion of their retail footprint. The new Millstores combines the best retail experiences with Cleveleys’ high-footfall town centre location. The store has created over 25 new jobs.
Millstores offers over 10,000 product lines from well-known brands such as Rieker Footwear, Apricot, Regatta, Tog24, Julian Charles, Sockshop, and Yankee Candle. The store will feature fashion, footwear, bedding, homeware, gifts, and more departments.
Jon Addis, co-owner, said: “The support from the Cleveleys community – retail and shoppers alike—has been overwhelming. There is always an element of risk with any new store. But with so many people turning up today, we are sure we have made the right decision to open the first-ever Millstores here in Cleveleys.
“But now the hard work continues. We’re working our socks off to deliver another great shopping experience that Cleveleys deserves.”
The premises’ redesign, which cost over £150,000, includes significant changes such as new signage and a reconfigured layout. This layout places the checkout counters on the side to create a more open and inviting entrance, enhancing the overall shopping experience.
