Revealed: Sports section for inside Beatties after Mike Ashley takeover
Tracksuits and trainers are replacing stationery and greeting cards in the department store's lower ground level.
Mike Ashley is to open a sports department in Beatties, it can be revealed today.
Tracksuits, sports hoodies and trainers from Sports Direct are going on display in the lower ground level of the iconic department store.
The section, which fronts onto Victoria Street, was previously used for the stationery and greeting cards section.
Now, sports stock is being moved into the lower level ready for it to be re-opened.
Officially, management are remaining tight-lipped and a spokesman said there was no information to share ‘at the moment’.
The new concession will not impact the company’s existing store in Queen Street, the Express & Star understands.
While it is a positive step, the move offers no long-term clues over the future of Beatties, with staff still waiting to hear their fate.
The store was taken over by Mr Ashley as part of his buy-out of House of Fraser two months ago.
Talks have since been taken the building’s landlord, a Danish consortium, which had a lease with House of Fraser with 33 years still to run.
After vowing to keep 80 per cent of the 59 House of Fraser stores open, Mr Ashley has announced the closure of the Shrewsbury outlet and yesterday sacked the directors and senior management at House of Fraser.
Stores in Solihull and Telford store will remain open but question marks remain over 35 more.
Inside Beatties, staff were yesterday putting the Sports Direct stock on display.
A sign stopping customers from entering the lower level apologises for disruption as the store is enhanced.
The Express & Star launched a campaign following Mr Ashley’s takeover, urging him to keep the store open, which received the support of more than 5,000 people.
Beverley Knight, Steve Bull and Hugh Porter were among those to back the campaign.
Around 280 people work at Beatties, opened in 1887 by James Beattie.
