Major retailer coming to Jersey in £15m de Gruchy expansion

Thursday 08 January 2015

De Gruchy is planning a £15 million redevelopment and have secured a mystery deal with “one of the UK’s leading retailers” as part of a bold plan to transform the site.

They say that their plans – unveiled yesterday – are the most significant for Jersey’s high street in many decades.

The redevelopment will more than double the retail floorspace of the department store, and the two-year project is likely to start this year if they get the green light from Planning.

De Gruchy Managing Director Neville Moore said that the store would remain open throughout the work.

He said: "This is a very exciting time for de Gruchy.

“Our vision to create a state-of-the-art retail environment which will provide a premium shopping experience in the heart of St Helier is now being realised.

“The project embraces the seismic changes that have occurred in the retail landscape and repositions us to take advantage of the new opportunities that exist.”

The store was founded in 1810 and today employs more than 200 people.

The plans have been welcomed by the minister with responsibility for retail, Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham.

He said: “This is very good news for St Helier.

“De Gruchy’s confidence in Jersey as a place to do business with such an  emphatic statement sends  a clear message that not only are we open for business, but this is a very good place to do business.”