Eager bargain hunters braved the cold in Dereham this morning to queue outside Palmers department store for a preview event ahead of its closing down sale.
The store, which has been part of the Dereham retail community for over 25 years, has been sold to businessman Basil Todd who is planning a £2m redevelopment of the space into a new shopping complex which includes rebuilding the recently demolished site next door.
He has said it will cover more than 30,000 square feet and employ more than 50 staff.
The shop was closed for two days this week to prepare for the sale and this morning it opened for account holders only with more than 5000 invitations sent out. A long queue formed outside the entrance on Nunn's Way as shoppers waited for the doors to open.
But the sale for the general public starts tomorrow at 10am and managing director David Howard is expecting a busy day for staff on the tills.
'It is a £1 million sale and every single item in the store is reduced,' he said.
'If we run out of stock we will bring more in from other branches so Dereham customers can expect to see lines they have not had here before.'
The sale is expected to continue until the beginning of March when the doors will close on Palmers for the last time.
* The store is open tomorrow and Friday from 10am to 6pm and on Saturday from 9am to 5.30pm and then normal opening hours from next week.
* Do you have any old photographs of Palmers or when it was Nicholas Hinde & Sons or Bonds or memories of the store? Email them to kathryn.cross@archant.co.uk.
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