New business in former Beales department store unit in Perth to open this week

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Dundee bed and mattress firm will open its new store in Perth on Friday following a major revamp to a prominent retail unit.The former McEwens premises in St John Street will welcome back shoppers for the first time in three years.Bliss Beds has signed a 10-year lease to occupy and revamp the building, which was most recently a Beales department store.Gary Gallacher runs the family business with sons James, Liam and Gary, with around £200,000 invested in the new venture over the past eight weeks.Bliss Beds – which sells beds, mattresses, bedroom furniture and sofas – currently operates in Dundee’s Wellgate Shopping Centre.The new occupants are also looking to sublet sections of the premises to smaller businesses.Following a clear-out and the comprehensive renovation, Gary said excitement is building for the opening.“We are desperate to get the store open,” he told the PA.“You always worry ‘how is it going to do’ - but that is the same for every place.“It has been hard work but worth it.“We have a unique product set with the same quality as bigger businesses but without the massive prices.“That is what customers like, especially with the cost of living crisis.”Gary said the finishing touches will be completed on Thursday with the store opening on Friday.Plumbing issues in the upstairs toilets mean they will need refurbished, while the cafe will not be ready until the start of November.The Dundee firm has spent a six-figure sum on stock, around £30,000 on new lights, £25,000 on new large screens for the store front and an undisclosed amount to repair the broken lift.Gary added: “We have been doing bits and pieces for a few weeks.“New lights have been put in and about 90 per cent were changed to LEDS.“Stock is the biggest