Retail chain confirms new Birmingham store plans

CHILDREN’S megastore chain Toys’R’Us has confirmed its plans for a new store in Birmingham due to open next month.

The American company, headquartered in New Jersey, will open a new 23,000 sq ft store as part of the redevelopment of the former Big W unit at St Andrew’s Shopping Park, next to Birmingham City FC.

Set to create 50 jobs, it is the first Toys’R’Us in Birmingham since 2006 when its Dale End shop closed down to make way for a new development which never came to fruition.

The firm has other outlets in Shrewsbury, Coventry, Merry Hill and Tamworth.

It is the latest name to open a store at the revamped shopping park following the closure of the Big W store in 2008 when Woolworths fell into administration.

Earlier this month Willenhall-based discount store chain Poundland opened its latest venture there, followed by a new 7,500 sq ft JD Sports store which created 25 new jobs.

Other tenants include an Outfit clothing store, Boots and Peacocks.

James Whitehill, senior fund manager for Legal & General Property which is asset managing the park, said: “Having only just celebrated the launch of Outfit and Peacocks, it is fantastic to be so quickly unveiling plans for the arrival of yet another exciting, major retailer at St Andrew’s Shopping Park.”