Dockyard is fast becoming the town centre for the west end of the Island according to West End Development Corporation head Ed Williams who yesterday said that the opening of several new shops has helped draw local customers to the Clocktower Mall.

In recent weeks, Yvonne Cacace ? who owns Stefanel, Sasch, Quattro, Iana and Mambo in Hamilton ? opened a Mambo Outlet designer clothing store and a second Iana children?s clothing store in the mall. Claire Smith ? who owns Bermuda Trader ? has opened the clothing and eclectic gift shop Bermuda Triangle and Christa M. Leduc has opened the studio / jewellery shop CL Wire.

The openings come as long time tenant Trimingham?s departs. The 163-year-old department store had five stores catering mostly to tourists in the mall. Yesterday it closed its last two shops.understands that new tenants have already taken over those remaining two leases.

Mr. Williams said: ?We?re getting more interest from businesses that want to open in Dockyard for the local market. To a certain extent it is something that is new, retailing at the other end of Island where people haven?t looked at it in that context before. As Wedco is now developing this town centre for the west end you are going to be seeing more of that notwithstanding the tremendous tourist development that is going to take place.?

Wedco previously unveiled a development plan that would make Dockyard the business and retailing centre for the west end.

Mr. Williams said: ?People are now starting to latch onto the west end market that is clearly saying I don?t? want to have to come town all the time.?

Ms Cacace is one businesswoman who is clearly targeting the local market in the west end because 90 percent of her customer base is local.

?Mambo is an outlet to our sister store in town so basically we can move anything from town at the end of season up there so we can shorten the sale period in town and turnover into the next season?s merchandise faster that way,? she said adding that since Iana had an extremely good year in town she opened a second one in the Dockyard area for west enders.

While she has not advertised the opening of the two stores, she said Iana is already doing well and it is clear that people like the deals offered at the outlet store. This is not the end for her planned expansion to Dockyard. While she refused to disclose details, she said: ?We?ve got something in the works very big.?

?Dockyard definitely has its own appeal and in time it will be the place to go to shop and have a nice family environment. It is a safe place to be and if you want to go on a Sunday or Saturday if your are local go down there for lunch, go to Snorkel Park, go shopping. It is a very relaxed environment so you don?t feel raced like in the city,? she said.

The Dockyard?s hours are another positive for the other new retailers as well. Wedco is one of the sponsors of the Tuesday evening Destination Dockyard street festival which runs until September 27 and sees shops remain open until 9pm. Dockyard shops are also open seven days a week including most holidays.

Ms. Smith said the friendly Dockyard environment offers a real feeling of community.

?It is a nice feeling,? she said adding that Dockyard?s Sunday opening is also good for her store which sells clothing, handmade jewellery and other eclectic items.

?Sunday is a big local day so it has become an outing for people to go to Dockyard on Sunday and of course with town being closed it is all open up there seven days a week which is a plus as well? she said.

Ms. Ledux previously sold stained glass from a pushcart in Dockyard Gazebo. When The Littlest Drawbridge moved to a larger shop in the mall she jumped to take over the closet size space where she now sells stained glass and handmade jewellery.

?Business is very good. We mainly see tourists but we also get locals requesting custom orders,? she said.