AN ARTS and crafts superstore is eyeing up a vacant shop at a retail park in Westcliff, with new jobs being advertised online. 

Hobbycraft is exploring the possibility of opening at the London Road Retail Park, with councillors and residents insisting it would be a great addition. 

Bosses have remained tight-lipped over the new store, but with job adverts appearing online it seems it could soon become a reality. 

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The adverts state they are looking for people to join the team when the shop opens “next month”. 

Councillor Matt Dent was delighted another vacant unit could be taken up.
He said: “It is definitely good news; it is always good to have a vacant unit taken up in Southend by a good business.

“It is what we want to see.

“I think Hobbycraft will really be welcomed, as there are a lot of hobbyists in the city and I think it will be well received, and successful, if they were to take up a space there.

“It is a popular chain too, and there are plenty of groups who will be delighted to see Hobbycraft come to the Retail Park.”

Guy Grimwade, a Southend resident, reiterated the positivity around filling up a vacant unit.

He said: “This is the first I have heard of it, but it is good news.

“Especially by it taking a vacant unit, it is good, as it is nice to see units being taken up and not being left empty.”

A spokesman for Hobbycraft did confirm they are exploring a vacant unit but did not give away any more details.

They said: “We can confirm that we’re exploring a vacant unit in Southend. At this moment in time, we’re unable to confirm finer details but will be sure to update local media when we’re in the position to do so”.

Hobbycraft are a centre for crafts and store which has “everything you need for art, knitting, crochet, haberdashery, papercraft, wedding and party, baking, jewellery making and more”.

It is unknown the exact unit within the Retail Park that Hobbycraft are exploring, with multiple currently standing empty. 

Job adverts stated: “We are excited to be opening a new store at the London Road, Retail Park, in Southend.

“We are opening in July 2022, and we are looking for colleagues to join our team and help launch our new store.”