Weymouth: Former Boots Pharmacy store to be revitalised

The owner of Artisan Island on St Mary Street, Weymouth, is ‘evolving’ his business into the former Boots store on the St Thomas Street side.

Ian Lambert, 61, from Weymouth, has signed a 10-year lease to take over part of the former health and beauty store and transform it into an expansion of his smaller store.

He has earmarked Tuesday, October 1 as a potential opening date.

Ian Lambert (Image: Ian Lambert)

Not only has the expansion meant that 500 jobs will be created for sellers from all over the world including Spain, Scotland and potentially even America, but two managerial jobs have been created with the hopes that two more members of staff may come on board.

Mr Lambert said: “This is phenomenal for the local economy. I am one of the few artisan shops that will accept distance sellers.”

Right: Ian Lambert and a customer (Image: Ian Lambert)

He has even made the bold claim that he ‘believes it will be the biggest shop of its kind in the south west.’ 

The businessman added: “It’s quite exciting for everyone involved. We will be filling up the downstairs with all the sellers until it is full with plans of evolving across the two floors with the possibility of doing workshops upstairs if the landlord agrees.”

One of these new staff members includes store manager Ani Genova, who is also a crafter.

She said: "We are very excited to, and as a crafter, I think this new big shop will be very good for a lot creative people in Dorset and not only."

Ani Genova (Image: Ian Lambert)

Mr Lambert has no plans of shutting down the other shop which he took over six-months-ago.

He said: “We are looking to keep the current shop going but changing it slightly so that there will only be one of a particular type of item on the shelves as we now have this bigger store. We are also going to try and make the shelves bigger and make space for clothing and other items.

“It all began when I was looking for somewhere to put my coins and this shop became available and the business evolved from there and has been going ‘very well.’

Mr Lambert described Artisan Island as ‘a destination shop where you get good value for your money,’ adding that ‘the former Boots unit is way big enough to take all sorts’ including furniture.