By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 12:41, Monday, 15 October 2012

Hoopers department store in Carlisle has reopened as a discount designer outlet.

Hoopers

The premises in Castle Street closed in August with the loss of 83 jobs.

At the time, Hoopers was hopeful of a quick sale to businessman Philip Day, chairman of Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

But the company announced last month that the deal had collapsed, prompting the decision to reopen on Saturday as Hoopers Outlet.

The new venture is employing approximately 30 staff. Only the ground-floor sales area and the first-floor restaurant are in use.

The stock includes designer women’s and men’s fashions at greatly-reduced prices, mostly last winter’s unsold items from Hoopers’ other stores in Harrogate, Torquay, Tunbridge Wells and Wilmslow. It includes labels not previously sold in Carlisle such as Versace, Moschino and Escada.

There is also bedding, towels, mirrors and kitchenware and a children’s wear section is due to open shortly.

A steady stream of curious shoppers came through the doors on Saturday.

They included Mary Styth, a former mayor of the city.

She said: “It’s good to see Hoopers open again. That’s what Carlisle wants. It is wonderful that the staff are back because they are excellent staff here.”

Helen Sadowski, 47, of Dearham near Maryport, was not so impressed.

She said: “It’s high-end stuff but end of season. I couldn’t find anything that I wanted and I don’t think I will be back.”

But Linda Dixon, 55, of Dalston Road, Carlisle, said:“It looks quite bare but the prices are good and there’s a good range of sizes.”

The store will trade from 9.30am to 5pm on Mondays to Saturdays.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh Woollen Mill says it remains in talks with Hoopers about buying the store, which traded as Bulloughs for nearly a century until it was bought by Hoopers in 2006.

First published at 11:47, Monday, 15 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk