The face of Billericay High Street is set to change with the arrival of Britain's largest catalogue shop - creating 35 new jobs.
Argos will be opening a new store at the Dowdall and Jordan site in the town in March as part of the company's three-year plan to open 105 new stores in the UK and Ireland.
The chain, which was launched in 1973, now has almost 500 stores throughout the UK and Ireland.
In the last financial year Argos, which also has a huge regional distribution centre in Basildon, had sales of £2.8billion.
Argos spokesman Sheila Williams said the company had "identified a need" for an Argos in the town.
She said: "We are looking forward to serving customers in Billericay who would otherwise be travelling to their next nearest Argos store in Basildon."
The chain is the country's number one retailer for toys and small electrical appliances and a leading player in many other markets.
One trader, whose business may face competition from Argos, welcomed the arrival of the new store.
Alan Dadswell, who owns Toys 'n' Tuck, in The Walk, off the High Street, said he thought the new store would give the town centre a boost.
He added: "If anything, it makes the town more attractive for shoppers. We have a shop in Rayleigh and that was not affected when Argos opened a store there."
Mr Dadswell added that he hoped the draw of Argos would keep shoppers in the town, rather than going to Lakeside or Basildon.
Published Friday, January 24, 2003
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