A POPULAR technology store is set to "double" in size after completing its move into a pair of vacant shop units once home to two major retailers.

The iStore, a well-known reseller of Apple products, is relocating from its current unit in the heart of Lion Walk Shopping Centre to Culver Square.

Cryptic iStore posters were first spotted outside the former Paperchase site earlier this year, as reported by the Gazette back in October.

Paperchase closed its Colchester store after the firm was purchased by Tesco, which then shut down its physical shops.

Gazette: iStore - The business is taking up the ex-sites of Paperchase and EEiStore - The business is taking up the ex-sites of Paperchase and EE (Image: Public)

Refurbishment work at the new iStore is well underway and continuing at pace ahead of its grand re-launch, which is slated for this Saturday.

Will Mayes, head of marketing at iStore, has confirmed the store move is near complete, and it won’t be long until visitors can experience the bigger and better iStore.

He said: “The iStore Colchester team has a busy week ahead of them, they're in the midst of moving into our new location in Culver Square. 

“We closed our Lion Walk store at the end of Saturday and we will officially be open on December 2 at 7/8 Culver Square.

“Our new home approximately doubles the store space and so gives us a lot more flexibility to showcase the full range of Apple products and better support our service customers.

“We can't wait to welcome everyone in-store again on December 2.”

The iStore is not only taking over the former Paperchase unit, but also the one which used to be home to mobile brand, EE.

Gazette: Refurbishment - The previous posters spotted by The GazetteRefurbishment - The previous posters spotted by The Gazette (Image: Newsquest)

The structural wall which once split the two units has been removed, creating a far bigger space for the business and its customers.

Sam Good is the manager of Our Colchester BID, a team tasked with bringing tourism and business interest into the city centre.

He said: "It is fantastic to see the iStore expanding its unit size to the new store in Culver Square.

“This is a show of confidence to not only expand their premises but also investing heavily in a new shop-fit.

“Occupancy rates for the City Centre are being maintained well above national and regional average and with the impending Debenhams development in 2024, we are excited to see the Culver Square area thrive off of the back of these great additions."

The fate of the soon-to-be vacant Lion Walk unit is yet to be announced.