Image: Fiona Hodge at DIYWeek.net

A former Woolworths outlet on Addlington Road, South Croydon, shall re-open this month under a new name: Smallworths. The store shall offer similar DIY, housewares, gift and entertainment ranges as its previous occupant and is the brainchild of former Woolies managers Ken Holdway and Asad Khan. 

The new outlet shall also apparently boast a new and improved pick'n'mix section. 

The signage for the store has already been put above above the door ready for the opening on Tuesday August 24. 

Mr Holdway and Mr Khan are both former managers of the now-collapsed Woolworths, working in branches in Beckton, east London and Peckham, South London respectively.

Mr Khan has said the two of them have been rushing in order to get everything ready for the opening. They are however looking forward to the store's first day of trading. 

The site on Addington Road has stood empty since Woolworths went bankrupt at the end of 2008, and is not the only one to have a re-brand from a member of the Woolworths alumni. Claire Robertson, ex-manager, took over the empty building of her Dorchester branch and re-named the outlet as Wellworths. Andy Latham, former head of stores and concessions at Woolworths, and Gareth Thomas, banker, also launched a new Woolworths-style chain of up to 50 stores called Alworths after raising £10m. 

On November 5th 2009, the first Alworths outlet opened in Didcot. The duo now operate eight stores in the south of England, with the latest opening in New Milton, Hampshire.