Newport charity shop moves to larger high street unit
A charity shop is re-locating to one of the biggest premises in Newport High Street.
The Katharine House Hospice shop is moving from St Mary's Street to a much larger building at 58 High Street.
Charity spokesman Nigel Connor said the lease has been signed and the new outlet would open in "five to six weeks".
He was unable to say how many jobs the move would create. Katharine House has shops across the Midlands including stores in Eccleshall and Cannock.
At its large store in Cannock it sells second hand furniture.
A recent study showed the number of charity shops on Britain's streets has risen by 30 per cent over the last five years.
Some experts have claimed that the boom in charity shops is harming the high street.
But Newport Chamber of Commerce chairman Patrick Beech has welcomed Katharine House's expansion.
He said: "I think it's fantastic news. It is a big shop and it needed to be filled.
"Katharine House will be there for years. Yes, Newport has a lot of charity shops already, but they are respectable and I don't see a problem with it at all.
"You would think that building is too big just for knick-knacks so it will be interesting to see what else they sell."
Work in the Newport shop has been ongoing in recent weeks with diggers taking up the concrete floor inside the building.
The 3,300sq ft shop has been empty since women's fashion outlet Happit closed on Christmas Eve last year. The building has seen a string of changes. First Trade Secret closed in February last year. It reopened as Happit, before closing again after a month. The firm was bought by Liric Ltd, but it lasted just eight months. Katharine House's current St Mary's Street spot is now to let.
