LEGENDARY record shop Beyond the Download is one of several top businesses coming to Peace Place.
The popular store, which started as an online retailer seven years ago, will take over the former Strange The Jewellers building in Rose Street.
It means the shop, once the smallest in the country, will increase its size by a third and reach a bigger footfall.
Craft brewery Sit & Sip and The Blue Orchid Bakery and Tea Room will join GAIL’s Bakery which opened before Christmas.
Dom Hurrell, store manager at Beyond the Download, said it hoped to be in its new location by the end of March.
“We’re really excited by the move,” he explained.
“It means we can offer even more great vinyl which has never been more popular. We are one of 250 independent record shops across the country taking part in Record Store Day on April 13 when we will have exclusive offers on new vinyl.
“Last year, we had people queuing the night before and we expect the same this year.”
Also arriving soon in Peach Place is frozen food retailer Cook, who will open next month.
Blue Orchid, Sit & Sip and the already announced Leafy Elephant gin bar will be in the new pedestrianised courtyard area which was the former Rose Street car park and overlooks Wokingham Methodist Church.
In a statement, Cllr Philip Mirfin, Wokingham Borough Council executive member for regeneration, said: “In addition to Cook, who started fitting out their new store last week, and the Leafy Elephant independent gin bar who are due to start fit out very soon, I’m very pleased to welcome another three great new independents to the town.
“The Blue Orchid Bakery and Tea Room with their delicious homemade cakes, savouries and sweet treats, Sit & Sip who, in addition to their extensive range of craft beers and other drinks you can take away, will also offer people the chance to simply relax and enjoy a drink in their new store, and Beyond the Download an independent record shop who pride themselves on their real passion for music and vinyl that they love to share with their customers.”
He added: “Our vision for Wokingham remains to create a great mix of stores in the town centre with a balance between the national names, like Waterstones and Gail’s bakery, we are bringing to Peach Street and the more niche units within the square and elsewhere.
“Our first stores have proven incredibly popular and we’re hoping residents will embrace these new businesses as well.
“We’ve always recognised that it’s important the town has the high street names to attract regular footfall and cater for people’s daily shopping needs, but we also know that we need to offer something more unique if the town is to thrive. Wokingham already has lots of great independent stores and these new names will be a fantastic addition to these.
“I’m very pleased to welcome Sit & Sip to Peach Place. This independent company will be a great addition to Wokingham.
“Blue Orchid Bakery and Tea Room, very much a local independent business based in Wokingham.”
He added: “We are in the process of finalising a date to open up the new square as, due to the level of activity that will be taking place whilst tenants complete their internal work, we feel it is safer to keep it closed off to pedestrians. We’re talking to the tenants now and hope to release more dates soon.”
And the council is also preparing to hand over the new Elms Field foodstore to Aldi so it can start fitting it out ready for opening later this summer.
