THE man behind the Bells Stores chain of convenience stores is to add an hotel and restaurant to his business empire.
Steven Bell, who sold his shops to Sainsbury's for a reported £22m a year ago, is about to complete the purchase of Chapters, in Stokesley High Street.
He still works as chief executive of Sainsbury's at Bells, operating more than 50 stores from its Skelton base.
Mr Bell told the D&S Times that he was unable to comment until everything had been signed and sealed, but confirmed that job vacancies at Chapters had been advertised.
The deal is the latest in a series of business ventures undertaken by Mr Bell since the sell-off to Sainsbury's.
Last year, he bought another property in Stokesley High Street, converting it to the Contemporary hair salon run by his wife, Dawn.
He also bought The House fashion store in Yarm in partnership with his brother Peter and the duo are believed to have bought a second fashion store in Harrogate
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