A former Greenwoods Menswear store in Stoke-on-Trent has been given a new lease of life as a shop, gaming cafe and events hub.
Geek Retreat has taken up the last remaining vacant space on Moxon Island, in Hanley, which was sold to Nottingham-based ALB Group 12 months ago.
The shop - which has been vacant since 2017 - is scheduled to open on December 18 amid the Christmas rush, and a dozen new jobs have been created.
It is one of the 100 branches the national chain plans to launch by the end of this year.
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Robert Mole, franchise owner of Geek Retreat, said: "We are creating about a dozen jobs in opening up the branch.
"I have lived in Stoke-on-Trent for 18 years and the city needs people to come together and set up these independent businesses, otherwise it is going to go further downhill.
"It's great to be able to get things going in Hanley to regenerate the area."
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Geek Retreat stocks 'geek culture' merchandise like comics, posters, clothing, figures and memorabilia as well as games and trading cards. It caters for fans of everything from Marvel and sci-fi to Warhammer, Pokémon and even traditional board games.
Robert added: "There are tons of gaming communities locally, and there is geek culture all around Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, especially with two universities on our doorstep.
"People who have been through covid are all discovering these new hidden hobbies they didn't realise they were into, and they had nowhere to go and do it.
"But that's what we are going to provide.
"We are very excited to open and to see people coming in to start building communities."
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Geek Retreat is one of a number of shops which occupy the Moxon Island building, including Shuropody, The Works, Rowfers and Forbidden Planet.
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And work has now started on transforming the top floor of the building into residential accommodation after planning permission was granted in September.
Arran Bailey, managing director of ALB Group, said: "We are delighted to welcome Geek Retreat to Moxon Island.
"It is the perfect addition to this part of Hanley and opens up a whole world of leisure pursuits for people from near and far, especially those who are into alternative culture."
Property consultants FHP acted on ALB's behalf to market the units.
Oliver Marshall, FHP associate director, said: "We have had great success working with ALB on regearing and renewing the existing leases within the building, and this is an excellent result for the remaining vacant space. The building is now fully occupied bringing vitality to the area.
"It's the ideal space for Geek Retreat, sitting alongside tenants like The Works, Forbidden Planet and Rowfers."