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‘Vibrant Elgin’ entices furniture firm to buy shop that has been empty for four years

The former Comet store has been empty since 2012.
The former Comet store has been empty since 2012.

A store which has lain empty in Moray’s biggest town for more than four years is set for a fresh lease of life.

The former Comet premises in Elgin closed in 2012 when the national electronics chain went bust.

The Hay Street site has subsequently become an eyesore on a prominent junction in the town, with the building falling into disrepair.

However, the property is due to reopen at the beginning of August after being bought by Inverness-based furniture company Blackbridge Furnishings.

Last night, the company’s owner James Fraser explained he was surprised the abandoned Comet building had been empty for so long.

And the businessman revealed thriving trade in Elgin had encouraged him to expand his business into Moray.

He said: “That junction has a huge amount of traffic going past it. It’s an ideal location for us. Somewhere like that wouldn’t have stayed empty for two minutes in Inverness.

“Elgin struck us as being really busy and very vibrant. There are a lot of independent businesses there now and I think people like to shop local.”

It is expected four full-time jobs will be created when the shop opens.

Work crews have already started on repairs to the exterior of the run-down former electrical retailer as well as making alterations to the inside of the premises.

Gill Neill, manager of Elgin Bid, said: “It’s a very prominent building on a busy junction. Whenever buildings sit for a long time, they just start to look worn out.

“It’s good to see people working on it. It’s already created a bit of a buzz with people wanting to know who is moving in.”

The Bid has begun holding keys for empty premises in the town centre, so viewings of prominent buildings can be made at short notice.

New businesses are expected to open up in the coming months in the former Matheson’s store on Batchen Street and a national chain has shown interest in Cafe Ecosse on the High Street.

Mrs Neill added: “We’ve found that it’s a lot easier to arrange to meet people and show them round than it has been before.”