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Preston’s former Debenhams store has a new lease of life almost four years after closing.
It’s become home to one of the largest charity stores in the UK as Emmaus has revived their ‘megastore’ concept.
Bringing together the charity’s three former city stores under one roof has taken eight weeks of intense work to be ready for opening day on Friday (14 March) – and that was without a working lift.
Read more: Preston woman who turned life around after homelessness receives Community Hero Award
Sofas, beds, electrical appliances and much more now line the former clothing and beauty product aisles across the 120,000 square foot multi-level store within Fishergate Shopping Centre.
The Emmaus megastore was opened by the charity’s ambassador, radio presenter, virtual quiz supremo and MBE, Jay Flynn.
He told Blog Preston: “What the guys have done here, the companions, they’ve turned around an absolute mess of a store and they’ve turned it into a brilliant new department store for Preston.
“And you know there’s be a little bit of taboo around that it’s a charity shop but I don’t think there should be.
“If you come and look round there’s loads of brand new goods in here and some incredible stuff, as well as reclaimed goods.
“I think it’s going to massively benefit not just Preston but wider Lancashire as well.”
Listen to Jay’s story about how he became involved with Emmaus and more below, or on Soundcloud
Dozens of Prestonians were queueing up outside the store as Jay cut the ribbon and thanked the staff and volunteers who had made the new store possible.
Emmaus Preston chief executive Stephen Buchanan paid tribute to the team who had transformed the former store – saying when they took over the lease all the Debenhams fixture and fittings were as they had been left on closing day.
He said: “When we walked in on day one, all the make-up department was still here and everything you’d expect in a Debenhams despite it being four years on.
“We’ve cleared it, it’s still a department store but now it’s full of new and donated furniture, white goods, electricals, toys and much more.”
Asked why the charity was going back down the megastore route – rather than having individual charity shops – a strategy previously employed when the former B&Q store in North Road was taken over in 2016 but closed amid the pandemic.
Mr Buchanan said: “We realised the megastore idea, the former B&Q we had, was so popular because people had choice.
“People want to come into a shop and find everything under one roof. Which is why Asda, Tesco and the likes survive.
“So we wanted to do the same. We wanted people to come in and find a sofa that might be £12 or it might be a sofa that is £800.
“There’s so much choice here, if you’re going to come then you’re going to find something – whether you’ve got a lot of money or not a lot of money. It doesn’t matter. We’ll help you find something that suits your needs.”
Money raised in the megastore goes back to helping Emmaus mission to break the cycle of homelessness.
Mr Buchanen explained: “Every single person who works here is formerly homeless and we provide accommodation, support and training.
“We’ll pay for anything that change’s people’s lives. We pay for driving lessons, forklift truck licences and electrician’s courses. Anything we think that can take someone off the streets, give them a new job and give them a new home we will pay for it.
“And this is the only way we get money. We don’t get grant funding, we don’t get government money or council money. We have to get it from the items we sell, so the guys are very proud they are paying for their own changes to their lives.
“So if you spend money with us then you’re changing a life.”
Getting the shop ready to open has been far from plain-sailing as the Emmaus team found there was no working lift.
Mr Buchanan explained: “We’ve had to move things from four floors, without a lift – including over 200 washing machines.
“It’s been a hell of a challenge and a lot of safe and careful carrying up and down flights and stairs.
“All of that has been done by our people.”
Listen to our full interview with Stephen Buchanan below or on Soundcloud
Entering the store from the Fishergate Shopping Centre main entrance and you’re greeted by Carl Rock – or ‘Rock’ as everyone calls him.
Dressed in top hat and tails he aims to become the face of the Emmaus store.
He said: “I think it’s important people get a friendly welcome and I used to be security and doorman in a previous life – so I know the drill.
“It’s fantastic to see the store all finished and open now and people coming in to see what we’ve got.
“I really hope Preston comes out to support it and it becomes a great success for us and the city.”
The charity’s former superstore in Deepdale and the two city centre homeware and fashion stores at Limehouse by Iceland and in Fishergate at the former HMV have all been closed in recent weeks as stock transferred to the new Fishergate site.
Parking for the store is in the main Fishergate Shopping Centre car park and there is a dedicated loading and drop-off bay signposted for the Emmaus store for the collection or delivery of heavy and large goods.
The new Emmaus store is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays.
See pictures below inside the new Emmaus store or tap to see them larger.
The Emmaus store is the second high-profile taking over of former retail units, with the British Heart Foundation moving into the former Corporation Street Aldi and opening during Thursday 13 March.
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