A.S. Cooper & Sons, Calypso, Davison's, Treats, Skywalkers, La Femme, Michael Swan Art Gallery and Ice cream & Yogurt have each decided to set up shop in a new retail centre behind the Clock Tower building.

And a local bank is considering setting up an operation in the newly refurbished building.

New Wedco chairman Mr. Scott Hunter, who recently replaced Mr. J.C. (Kit) Astwood, was given a 20-minute tour of Wedco's "retail phase 3'' with board members.

The Third Phase encompasses the transformation of a single storey building into a Victorian shopping mall which will house ten shops with a total retail space of about 4,500 square feet.

At a cost of $1 million, the Victorian Mall will be two storeys high with merchants having the choice of using the second storey to display merchandise.

Each store is unique in size.

Merchants will pay ten percent of their earnings instead of a set rent. This means charges will be levied based on how well they have done.

Phase Three is due to be completed by late April or early May in time for the high season. It follows closely on the heels of Phases One and Two of the Clocktower Centre, which now houses 19 boutiques, retail shops and a restaurant on the ground floor and conventional banqueting rooms upstairs.

Mr. Hunter was pleased with what he saw.

"I think this is really exciting,'' he said. "We are building on the success of phases one and two. This will add to the attractiveness of the Dockyard for locals and tourists.'' General manager of Calypso Mr. Pierre-Francois Dutoya says the opening of an outlet in Dockyard is part of expansion plans by the company which include the re-opening of Benetton in Hamilton.

Mr. Dutoya said: "We have the right product at the right price. Dockyard deserves to have Calypso. It should only be a small part of our business but small streams can lead to big rivers.'' Owner of La Femme, on Church Street, Ms Joyce Hayden added: "It is a good source to pick up the tourist trade from the ships and other people visiting Dockyard.

"Also some people are not keen to travel from the West End into town to do their shopping. This will give them a local store to visit.'' And Mr. Peter Cooper of A.S. Cooper & Sons said he thought Dockyard business was increasing.

"That's revealed in the increasing numbers of people there each year, both tourist and locals.

"In addition, the Second Phase seems to us to be in good taste. We feel we should be a part of it.'' SHOPPERS DELIGHT -- New West End Development Corporation board members went on a guided tour of a planned Victorian Shopping Mall which will be completed in early spring at a cost of $1 million. Pictured from left are chairman Mr.

Scott Hunter, Mr. Colin Pearman, Mr. Eugene Mayor, Mr. Claude Perinchief, Wedco Project Manager Glyn Riddell, Mr. John Robbins, Mrs. Sandra Scott, Mr.

Don Baldwin and Wedco General manager Mr. George Smith.