AN ENTREPRENEUR has taken over the troubled Croydon Village Outlet department store, securing the jobs of 90 employees ahead of a Black Friday relaunch.
The former Allders department store in the town centre is set to be relaunched tomorrow (November 28) at 10am, as Zervo, after a rescue package with a "significant capital injection" from retail entrepreneur Clive Coombes.
Mr Coombes, who unsuccessfully tried to take over electronics brand Comet after its collapse in 2012, says the store will offer "a broad expanse of consumer goods at extremely competitive prices".
The rebranding marks a new start after a difficult year for Croydon Village Outlet, which opened in September 2013 after Allders closed a year earlier.
In September this year the Advertiser reported how the store's future remained unclear, with it in administration and the company in charge, Metro Outlet Croydon, having eight unpaid county court judgements totalling more than £35,000 against it.
Under the new name Zervo, Mr Coombes said the department store will continue to sell ladies and gents clothes, jewellery, perfumes, footwear, furniture, toys and travel accessories at "fantastic and discounted prices".
He had been working with a recruitment company to make jobs available to ex-services personnel, he added.
