retail reshuffles. Mairi Mallon reports.

Stores on the move are taking advantage of the quiet shopping season and post stock-taking time to make the change-overs.

One of the main catalysts has been the Island's newest travel agent, C Travel, buying property in Bermudiana Arcade, Queen Street, where Pirates Port has been for well over a decade.

Now clothes store Pirates Port have moved out, and are quickly trying to settle into three separate locations in Hamilton.

Workers have moved into the Bermudiana Arcade to renovate and make way for the 14-strong team of travel agents who hope to be in by April.

Pirate's Port will be moving its women's wear to the site of Mokah and Twiggies on the upper level walkway of Washington Lane. Both stores are closed and manager Simone Gibbons will be opening up an on-line store.

They will be also moving girls clothes to a store in the east end of the Washington Mall, and will be taking over Mick's Menswear in Bermudiana Arcade.

Mick's Menswear is moving back to Flatts Gift Shop in Flatts, while the boyswear and youth wear for Pirate's Port will be moving in.

Robin Gilbert, who owns and manages Pirates Ports with his wife, said: "It is a lot of work. It is like moving five houses at once -- and we all know how difficult it is to move one house at a time.

"We have been operating since 1977, and have been in the arcade since 1983.

It has been great but it is time to move. We are looking forward to opening an awful lot, but it should be complete this week.'' Trim Plus, the Trimingham's store for fuller-figured women, is also upping and moving from their Front Street location behind jewellers Crisson's to the site of upmarket clothes store Triangles, where Smugglers Reefs' Money Town used to be.

Lawrence Trimingham, President of Trimingham's said: "We think that it is going to be a good space. There will be more wall space and we think that it will suit our needs very well.

"It is the ideal time to move because it is the quiet time of year.'' Crisson's will take over the space at the back where Trims Plus currently is to make one large store.

Larry Booker, manager of Crisson's said: "It will double the amount of space we have in that store. It is a prime site and we are expanding to meet the demands of our customers. We will be keeping all the existing stores open.'' The EasyLink machine has already been removed from the foyer in the centre.

It is not known what will happen to Triangles, which is part of the Smugglers Reef complex.

All change for retailers There is also work afoot at the store next to the Fishing Tackle on Church Street which has been empty for years. The building is owned by Knick Knack and is being upgraded as a store room for the company, according to David White, manager and owner of Knick Knack.

Mr. White said: "We are renovating the space which has been used as storage for years. It will continue to be used for storage.'' And there will be changes next door as well in another space owned by the Knick Knack empire. The Front Street Gallery, Heritage House will be moving its shop to the new location where it will continue to sell art and antiques and offer framing services.

They will move to Church Street in a space below the Flybridge Tackle Shop where Timeless Antiques was. The site has remained empty for several years.

Heritage House, also known as York House, No 2 Front Street, once the Blucks subsidiary moves out, will become the headquarters of Max Re, one of Bermuda's growing list of reinsurers.

Blucks & Co will, however, retain a cottage and keep the china and glass section open. Work is expected to take 18 months.

Also opened this week is the beauty salon Nail Hut Sanctuary at 15 Brunswick Street, Hamilton.

Pirates Port is moving to three separate locations -- the sites of Mokah and phase two of the Washington Mall and Mick's Menswear in Bermudiana Arcade.

Mick's Menswear is moving to Flatts Gift Shop. Trims Plus is moving to Triangles next to the Irish Linen Shop. Crisson's is taking over the whole of this Front Street site. Front Street Gallery is moving to the former site of Timeless Antiques in Church Street.