Superstore for Sports Direct

Superstore for Sports Direct

5 July 2017

THE Heatons store in Downpatrick will close at the end of the month.

The move is part of a Province-wide reshuffle which will result in the closure of Heatons stores which will be refurbished and rebranded as Sports Direct outlets.

Sports Direct purchased Irish retailer Heatons in 2015 and in addition to the closure of the Heatons store in Downpatrick, the shutters are also coming down at other outlets in Armagh, Omagh and Coleraine.

The St Patrick’s Avenue store in Downpatrick, where Sports Direct is also based, is currently selling off its stock at reduced prices.

The Recorder understands the Heatons and Sports Direct stores will close at the end of this month and a major new Sports Direct outlet will open before the end of the summer. Heatons staff will not lose their jobs and will transfer to become Sports Direct employees when the new store opens.

It is believed the internal modifications will result in the wall which separates Heatons and Sports Direct being removed to maximise the floorspace available as the new outlet becomes the biggest of its kind in the Province.

News the Downpatrick store is closing for refurbishment has been confirmed by Leonard Brassel, managing director of Sports Direct Ireland.

“Our store in Downpatrick is being closed for refurbishment and we will be announcing exciting plans for the site in due course,” he added.

Councillor Dermot Curran said he is pleased the St Patrick’s Avenue store is not closing for good as some local people had feared.

“Clearly there is a bright future for this particular store and I look forward to learning about the future plans for it. The store occupies a prime site in the town centre and provides a number of local jobs,” the Downpatrick councillor.

“There has been a lot of major investment in the town over recent years and an enlarged Sports Direct outlet has the potential to increase footfall at this part of the town. I hope all the staff currently employed by Heatons will transfer across.”