Retail kings

OLDHAM'S Affleck's Palace...Kamran Ghafoor (left) and Sameer Zulqurnain plan to convert part of Kings Hall on King Street into retail units.

THE town centre’s iconic King’s Hall building is set to be bursting with life once more as local developers have begun ambitious plans to transform it into Oldham’s very own Affleck’s Palace.

Kamran Ghafoor and Sameer Zulqurnian have purchased the historic King Street building and are well on their way to filling it with local traders, providing a large variety of goods, from clothing to cakes.

Using the premises vacated by the Co-operative in the late 1970s, King’s Hall offered market-style shopping. The ground floor included fancy goods stalls and a pick and mix counter.

Most of the first floor was allocated to Shoemarket. The entire second floor was taken up by King John’s cafe. Within its three floors, you could have your ears pierced, buy a new pair of shoes and have a burger, without even touching the main centre.

Recently, the whole of the King’s Hall complex belonged to Shoemarket but now exciting plans will see an array of local independent retailers set up shop in the building over four floors, with many already signed up.

The building will also have a food court, featuring some of the best local cuisine.

Mr Ghafoor, who has stood as a Conservative Oldham West and Royton parliamentary candidate in the last two general elections, says the historic building will become Oldham’s answer to Manchester’s Affleck’s Palace ­— a quirky indoor emporium of independent retailers and more.

Mr Ghafoor said: “We wanted to add to our town of Oldham. By purchasing and redeveloping the King’s Hall we wanted to bring back small businesses into the town centre, at a rate that they can afford.

“We were quite upset when we were listed as the most deprived town in the country where everyone held their heads down, as proud Oldhamers we realise that it certainly isn’t the case and by redeveloping our historical buildings I believe we will be able to make a positive change.

“Ask anyone born in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and even the early 90s about King’s Hall and everyone has memories attached to this building as a child. Whether it be getting your ear pierced or getting some pick-and-mix back in the day, King’s Hall could give you all of this.

“Rather than abandon our home town we graduated and returned back to Oldham to make a life for ourselves and our families. We want the younger generation to be proud of Oldham and are willing to give them opportunity to open a business and we want the local people to return to shop in the town centre rather than going to outlet malls and so forth.

“We are now trying to redevelop this building and re-kindle and also create new memories for our children.”

An opening date of June 4 has been set and work is currently on-going to prepare the building.

A large number of the shops have already been filled after a very positive response but there are still spaces available for anyone interested in setting up in the building. Contact Mr Ghafoor on 07894-208 888.