A DUNELM store in Somerset has been reopened after a large fire forced it to close more than a year ago.
The homewares retailer has relaunched its new-look Dunelm store at the Quedam Shopping Centre in Yeovil, Somerset, today (December 16).
The transformed 24,003 square foot store houses Dunelm’s product ranges like furniture and soft furnishings, on-trend décor, kitchenware, storage options, and pieces from the brand’s Winter and Christmas seasonal collections.
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A blaze "destroyed 30 per cent of the building," forcing the store to close and leaving the employees temporarily without work or transferred to the brand's outlets in nearby towns like Taunton.
The incident, which was believed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette, happened around 5pm on the day and resulted in no injuries. Dunelm's Yeovil team were "all evacuated safely" and given "alternative roles" within the business while the store was closed, a spokesperson for Dunelm confirmed.
Since the fire, progress has been made to restore the Yeovil Dunelm store, with McGills construction workers on site refitting the retail space. This includes the introduction of brand-new lighting and flooring.
The store is also gaining something it did not have when it was open in the past, with the launch of a Dunelm Pausa cafe.
To celebrate the grand re-opening, the first 100 customers through the door received an "exclusive goody bag" filled with Dunelm products. In addition, 20 golden tickets, each offering vouchers ranging from £5 to £20, were hidden around the store for some lucky visitors to discover.
Kelly Warnock, store coach at Dunelm Yeovil, said: “Reopening our Yeovil store is a really special moment for all of us. The fire was devastating for our team and for the community, and it’s been a long journey to get to this point.
"While our colleagues were redeployed to nearby stores, we’ve all been looking forward to the day we could come back home and work together again.
"We’ve had incredible support from local people throughout the rebuild, and we’re so grateful for the kindness and patience shown to us.
"The new store is brighter, more spacious and full of inspiration, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back through the doors. It will mean so much to see customers enjoying the space again.”
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