A SOUTHEND shopping centre is getting a new lease of life as a popular store prepares to set up shop.
The move comes five years after closed it's doors at the exact same location.
Residents of shared their excitement over the new development, reports Southend Echo.
Furniture outlet is currently preparing to move into the former Primark location at Royals Shopping Centre.
The chain operates 200 stores across the UK, including one in Lakeside Shopping Centre in .
But soon Southend residents will be spared the almost two-hour round trip.
“I'm really excited.I go to the Dunelm in Lakeside,this is very convenient for me,” Beverley Burns, who is originally from Scotland, told the Southend Echo.
The 39-year-old explained that she lives near the Southend shopping centre and had felt the impact when Primark packed up shop and moved further down the high street in 2020.
She also shared her hopes that the Dunelm move might inspire other outlets to move to the town.
“It was a big empty hole in Royals before, I hope it will attract more big businesses. I hope one will move into Debenhams,” Beverly said.
“I get lots of stuff out of Dunelm, it's really good and reasonably priced.
“We are really excited it's moving in, we are doing Bailey's bedroom next, it saves me a drive to Lakeside.”
Dominique Goddard, 50, was another Southend shopper who was pleased by the update.
“It's really good it's Dunelm, it will be good for the city. It will give people a reason to come into the town,” she said.
“It saves me having to travel to Lakeside, it will keep more people in the city.
“The whole of the Royals has felta bit empty for a while, it needed some big names. Hopefully, it will bring more people to this end of the High Street.”
Signage showing Dunelm's logo has already been added to the exterior of Royals.
Andrew Stanton, 58, from Rayleigh, also spoke to Southend Echo about the recent development.
“I go the Dunelm at Mayflower Retail Park in Basildon, I'm a big supporter of this new store,” he said.
“I'm more likely to come to the Royals because of this. With the loss of Debenhams, there was a no reason to come into Southend, this will help a lot.”
Southend Echo also reported that work could be seen taking place in the shop's interior.
And Dunelm isn't the only British retailer expanding as .
