The Range to take on Bangor’s former Focus store in April

Up to a hundred jobs will be created at a former DIY store in the city.

Locals welcomed the “tremendous” news that home, leisure and garden business The Range is to open a new store in the former Focus DIY outlet on Caernarfon Road.

The store, which is set to open on April 6, will be the firm’s first in north Wales and its 62nd in the UK.

The business says up to 100 full-time and part-time jobs will be created, including store and department managers and warehouse and administration staff.

Local people are already applying for positions, said a spokeswoman.

Eddie Dogan, who represents the Dewi ward on the city and county councils, said he was “absolutely delighted” by the news.

“I’m pleased to see the opening of any shop, because it means work for people in the area,” he said.

“We don’t have a lot of industry in this part of the country, and we depend on shops like this to give people work.

“We’re annoyed when we see shops leaving Bangor and people who have worked there for years losing their jobs, so I’ve been pushing for shops like this to come to the city.

“It’s tremendous when we get people places to work in Bangor.”

Mayor Huw Williams said he was “very glad” to see a business returning to the site.

“There are plenty of places closing down, so it’s good to see a shop being opened.

“It’s one less empty building in the city and will give the local economy a boost.

“They’ve been very quick in getting a new business in.”

The former store closed when Focus DIY went into administration in May.

Chris Dawson, who owns and runs The Range, said: “We would like to welcome the locals to the store’s opening, so that they can see first-hand what we are about.

“I would like to thank the council for welcoming us to Bangor with such open arms.

“It’s also fantastic to be creating so many jobs for the local area.”

Source : Rhodri Barker - Bangor and Anglesey Mail
www.theonlinemail.co.uk/bangor-and-anglesey-news/local-bangor-and-anglesey-news/2012/02/22/up-to-100-jobs-created-as-the-range-takes-over-former-focus-diy-store-in-bangor-66580-30374242/