Creasey’s puts £10m. of faith in the High Street
A £10m. investment in the High Street – literally – with the expansion of Creasey’s into the old HSBC building is getting under way on Monday.
The work will connect the premises of the former bank at 13, High Street to Creasey’s department store at 15-19, High Street, with the aim of creating a modern, fit-for-purpose retail shop.
‘The Creasey family has always taken every opportunity to reinvest in the business and the current directors are continuing to follow that path,’ said managing director Peter Creasey.
‘In the mid-80s we extensively rebuilt our main premises. Today we are about to embark on an even more ambitious project, which will deliver stunning retail premises fit for the 21st century, complete with escalators, a lift and level floors throughout to make shopping as easy as possible for everyone.’
Rihoy & Son is undertaking the project.
‘It will be a complex and long job, but we will continue to trade as normally as possible throughout,’ said Mr Creasey.
‘We have been planning this for a such a long time and I can’t wait to get started.’
Creasey’s director Jonathan Creasey said the company first spoke to architects about its ideas in 2017.
‘Covid was a black cloud over retail, which created serious doubts about the viability of such a significant multi-million-pound project,’ he said.
‘However, as a locally-owned family business, we’re committed to doing as much as we can to ensure the continued vibrancy of Guernsey’s High Street, which has been at the heart of our business since 1899.’
The project is expected to take three years to be fully completed.
General manager Stephen Mewha has been given the brief to deliver the store expansion. Mr Mewha joined Creasey’s last August, after a 30-year career running department stores for Debenhams and House of Fraser.
‘I am absolutely delighted to be on the beautiful island of Guernsey,’ he said.
‘I look forward to developing the new department store and introducing some amazing brands to the island.’
Main contractor Rihoy & Son is on site from Monday.
Initially, they will be working on the fifth floor, which is staff-only, and the fourth floor, where the current coffee shop is located. This will close on 8 July.
Scaffolding will be erected after the Island Games has finished.
It will completely envelop 13 High Street, the Quayside facade and part of the roof of 15-21 High Street. Once in place, the demolition and rebuild of the former bank will begin.
