STAFF who were told their jobs were on the line at Boyes' North Point shopping centre store are celebrating after bosses signed a new lease on the building.
Six months ago, employees at the shop on Bransholme were given official notice their jobs could go because terms on the lease could not be agreed.
At the time, managers from the company started looking for new premises to save as many jobs as they could.
But now a new long-term lease for the Bransholme store has been signed, while the family-owned firm is pressing ahead with plans to open a new city centre store in Whitefriargate.
It means 35 jobs have been saved in Bransholme with another 20 posts are being created at the new store in Whitefriargate, which is due to open next month.
Joint managing director Richard Boyes broke the news to staff in Bransholme yesterday.
He said: "Giving out those notices was a horrendous time for everyone involved, particularly the staff here.
"We had been struggling with getting a new lease, time was running out and we had no option but to issue redundancy notices.
"It was at that point we decided to look for another site in Hull to try to safeguard as many jobs as we could.
"We found the unit in Whitefriargate, discovered it had super landlords and started preparing to open there.
"However, we continued to negotiate over a new lease here and now we are in a great position to be able to stay in Bransholme and open our 52nd store in Whitefriargate."
Mr Boyes, who is the fifth generation of the family to head the company, paid tribute to the attitude of the staff at the Bransholme over the past few months.
"They have been absolutely superb and very supportive of what we were trying to do for them.
"We also received massive support from our customers here and other businesses in the centre who organised and signed a petition against the possible closure.
"Boyes was one of the first tenants here and we are delighted to be staying."
Mrs Liz Precious, 58, of Southcoates Lane, east Hull, has worked in the Bransholme store for the past 38 years.
She said: "It's a great place to work and this news is a big relief to all the staff here.
"We are all very happy to be staying. It has been a very stressful time for all of us but the company has kept us informed on a regular basis and the support from our customers has been great."
The Whitefriargate store will open on September 19.
Boyes a 'great addition' to city centreHull City council leader Steve Brady has welcomed the decision by Boyes to open a new store in the city centre.
The company's new Whitefriargate department store will open on September 19, in a unit previously occupied by Peacocks and, before that, Woolworths.
As well as fronting Whitefriargate, it will also feature a customer entrance off Trinity House Lane.
Cllr Brady said: "I think it will be a great addition to the area.
"Hopefully it shows a bit of confidence is returning to that part of town. Boyes is a big name and is very popular with the people of Hull.
"The company has obviously seen the potential of the area and what we are looking to do in terms of the regeneration of Trinity Square."
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