Accessorize in Harrogate is to reopen next week — but its sister shop Monsoon has permanently closed.
The two shops shared a unit at 20-22 James Street, where customers visited Monsoon, via the James Street entrance and Accessorize via a door at the back.
Both closed last month and although signs in the window said ‘sorry, we’re closed but this isn’t goodbye forever’ and ‘be right back’, the unit was described as ‘permanently closed’ on Google.
This prompted speculation neither business would return but as reported by the Stray Ferret, the site will reopen after the refit.
Gifts and homeware specialist Accessorize will welcome customers back on Friday, May 17 — but Monsoon will not return.
Accessorize storefront Harrogate
An Accessorize spokesperson told the Stray Ferret today:
“The Monsoon shop has now closed, and this is now only an Accessorize store with a homeware focus.”
Accessorize told the Stray Ferret the refurbished store will offer “a more diverse selection of gifting categories such as bridal, home and summer”, as well as self-care and men’s gifting products.
Paul Thomas, retail director at Accessorize said:
“We are excited to introduce our customers to our exciting new store concept of gifting and homeware.
“The new design store and gifting collection is just some of the many exciting features we have in store for our customers, and we can’t wait for them to experience everything the store has to offer.”
Accessorize will officially reopen May 17 at 9.30am. The closest Monsoon store will now be York.
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Harrogate clothes shop closes for refurbishment
A prominent James Street store has closed to undergo refurbishment.
The unit at 20-22 James Street houses two shops, Monsoon, with the James Street entrance and sister shop, Accessorize with the Marketplace store front.
Monsoon & Accessorize is currently closed, but the Stray Ferret understands the store is due to reopen after a refit.
The store is listed as permanently closed on Google, which raised confusion around the shop returning.
The Stray Ferret contacted the company for confirmation but Monsoon Accessorize declined to comment, stating that commenting on shop openings and closures is against company policy.
The women’s fashion retailer currently has notices displayed in both windows, which say “sorry, we’re closed but this isn’t goodbye forever” and “be right back”.
It comes as the company submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council for new signage this year.
London based Adena Services Ltd applied for a ‘halo lit fascia signage to existing retail unit’. The new signage is proposed to be coral, gold and illuminated.
Proposed shop front
The unit is the second shop on James Street to have closed for refit and later appear on Commercial Rightmove in recent weeks.
The Rightmove listing describes the site as:
“Available on a new full repairing and insuring lease for a term of years to be agreed in multiples of 5 with 5 yearly upward only rent reviews.”
The closed sign currently displayed in Monsoon’s window
The company behind Monsoon Accessorize was founded in the 1970s but went into administration in 2020 due to trading issues during the pandemic and closed multiple stores across the country.
The Harrogate store survived the closures after company founder Peter Simon brought Monsoon Accessorize out of administration.
Accessorize storefront Harrogate
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