Who owns the Debenhams buildings and what will happen to them?
- Credit: Archant
The 36-year-old multi-millionaire Irish grandson of bookmaker legend Barney Eastwood owns the building currently occupied by Debenhams in Norwich.
Businessman Bernard Joseph Eastwood, from Holywood, County Down, bought the Orford Place building in 2005 for more than £20million.
The building of the Orford Place giant department store. This was taken in 1955 and you can see the sign stating New Curls store. The Curl brother ran the store until it was taken over by Debenhams in the 1970s.
- Credit: George Plunkett
But now, with Debenhams being snapped up by online retailer Boohoo who have no plans to keep brick and mortar outlets, the future of this building and others in the region is uncertain.
Who owns the Debenhams buildings and what will happen to them?
- Credit: Archant
The 36-year-old multi-millionaire Irish grandson of bookmaker legend Barney Eastwood owns the building currently occupied by Debenhams in Norwich.
Businessman Bernard Joseph Eastwood, from Holywood, County Down, bought the Orford Place building in 2005 for more than £20million.
The building of the Orford Place giant department store. This was taken in 1955 and you can see the sign stating New Curls store. The Curl brother ran the store until it was taken over by Debenhams in the 1970s.
- Credit: George Plunkett
But now, with Debenhams being snapped up by online retailer Boohoo who have no plans to keep brick and mortar outlets, the future of this building and others in the region is uncertain.
I can t put it more simply than that. This has been an really difficult year for a lot of businesses and I think we might lose some more independents in the coming months. This year I ve had months where I ve paid my staff instead of myself. For the first time in ten years I m having to question whether I can afford to pay my staff a Christmas bonus. Such a small change in habit can have a massive difference. Even if it s just buying a bag of coffee beans or a gift card for an independent restaurant over a chain - it makes a massive difference.