A FRESH wind blows into Monks Cross shopping Park in Huntington this summer as York's shopping revolution marches on.

A new Monsoon Accessorize fashion store opens in more than 6,000 sq ft at the edge-of-York estate on June 22.

There is already a Monsoon store in Coney Street, in the city centre, plus an Accessorize in nearby Davygate, but a spokeswoman for the retail chain said there were no plans to close these.

The new dual store opens on the former site of Suit Direct whose staff has moved to an extended store within the McArthurGlen shopping outlet in Fulford.

The Monsoon Accessorize store at Monks Cross is described as "a terrific coup" by shopping park manager Katherine Sharp.

She said: "It is a reflection of how well we are doing and hopefully we will see, as a result, an increase in the number of customers here. Already, about 95,000 shoppers per week visit us in non-peak times."

But how many new jobs the new Monsoon Accessorize will bring is unclear at this stage, said the spokeswoman for the retail chain.

Where on average there were about ten staff per store, an assessment had yet to be made about numbers needed at the large Monks Cross unit and whether there would be any crossover of staff from the other two stores, she said.

Already, fitting out has begun at the Monks Cross store, overseen by Peter Simon, the chain's founder.

Mr Simon first opened a small boutique in London's Knightsbridge in 1973 and its stock of beautiful prints and fabrics from faraway places paved the way for Monsoon's signature style of colour, print, embroidery and attention to detail.

The Accessorize concept was launched after Monsoon began selling a small collection of accessories in the early 1980s. It was so popular that the new chain was introduced.

Mr Simon, now chairman of the company, said: "Our new Monks Cross store perfectly captures the bohemian spirit of Monsoon and the energy of Accessorize.

"It is important the brands constantly evolve and this new store design demonstrates how we are moving the brands forward without losing their true appeal."

The new store will sell accessories such as bags, hats, scarves, gloves, jewellery and hair adornments.

Also available will be accessories from the Angels range for young girls.

York now a shopping paradise

ANOTHER major shop chain in York underlines how sought after the city has become as a shopper's paradise.

You will hear it in the hammer-beat of builders when they move into McArthurGlen Designer Shopping outlet, at Fulford, on Monday, at the start of a £5 million revamp of its west wing.

Already the big retail groups are clamouring to find a place in the extra 3,000 sq ft that will be created by November.

At Monks Cross the past year has seen the establishment of a huge Marks & Spencer and an Argos has opened next door to TK Maxx behind the shopping park

Meanwhile, in Jockey Lane, Huntington, work has begun on a £5 million The Range Home And Leisure superstore.

In York city centre, the scramble for shopping space goes on.

Among the big retail chains either there or on their way are Zara, H&M, Whistles, Coast and Morgan and there are rumours that top fashion label purveyor Harvey Nichols wants to open a York branch.

Updated: 09:12 Saturday, April 29, 2006