Charran's opens new branch in Diego Martin

Charran’s bookstore opened a new branch in Diego Martin on Wednesday, just in time for the back-to-school rush.

The new branch opened on the Diego Martin main road, opposite Starlite shopping plaza.

Vivek Charran – owner of the well-known book and school supply chain – told Newsday that the newly-opened branch will serve customers in north-western TT.

“We thought opening in Diego Martin was a good move because we found Diego Martin itself was developing quickly,” Charran said. “Outside of Port of Spain, we found that there is a large community and a market in Diego Martin and Charran's bookstore has the potential to be the largest bookstore in the area.”

Charran said after covid19 the chain sought to expand its business, and thought that the location would be ideal to serve people from several areas in north-western TT.

“Its a good spot from Westmoorings, Bayshore going further down in the Carenage area and all the way to Chaguaramas,” he said.

He added that Diego Martin is also an area with several schools with a rich history, and he believes that the Diego Martin branch – the chain’s largest retail space – will serve the area well.

“To really restock the store the way we want to will take a couple months, but we've already expanded things,” he said. "We have an arts section with more craft items as well. We also have uniforms upstairs.”

He added that Charran’s also manufactures several items such as their own line of T-shirts, uniforms, vests and pants.

“We are expanding into what we would like to call a community store,” he said. “A place where people could come in and get a variety of things that they need, not just books. Covid19 hit us pretty hard as it did everyone else and for us to grow we would have to be more than just a bookstore.”