JD Sports will finally open its store in Tollgate Retail Park on Thursday morning at 9am.

It was revealed back in September that the business was moving into the site as new signage was spotted at the unit.

Previously, it was home to an Argos but in 2020, Sainsbury’s which owns the business, completed a review of its estate which included plans to close 60 to 70 standalone Argos stores.

This resulted in the Long Wyre Street Argos branch to close down in October that year, this was then followed by the Tollgate store’s closure in 2022.

King of trainers - an illustrative image of a JD SportsKing of trainers - an illustrative image of a JD Sports (Image: JD Sports) JD Sports, which proclaims itself as the ‘King of Trainers’, is a sportswear and streetwear retailer that sells garments, footwear, football boots, sports accessories, and more.

It already has a Colchester city centre location which opened back in October 2021, in Lion Walk Shopping Centre.

The new branch includes 7,009sq feet of retail space and will be selling brands like Nike, Adidas, The North Face, and Under Armour.

As a result of the new JD Sports opening, the store has created 27 new jobs in the area.

A special event will be held across this weekend to celebrate the opening.

Retailer - another image of a JD SportsRetailer - another image of a JD Sports (Image: JD Sports) There will be DJs, and visitors will be able to play JD’s Batak game in store to win a £50 voucher on each day.

The sportwear giant’s signature JD Labs will also be onsite to give consumers the exclusive opportunity to customise any footwear purchased in-store this weekend with different coloured laces, and different designs of lace plates and buckles.

James Air, Director, head of group acquisitions at JD said: “We’re excited to announce the launch of our latest store in Colchester.

“This expansion highlights our commitment to providing the community with an even wider selection of premium sportswear, fashion, and lifestyle brands.

“We look forward to welcoming both new and loyal consumers to explore the latest trends and gear that elevates their style and performance.”

The business will be open Mondays to Fridays 9am to 8pm, Saturdays 9am to 7pm, and Sundays 10am to 4pm.