Reeves Corner might not be rebuilt as a furniture store after the original shop was torched in the riots.

The Reeves family, who part own the site, has revealed it has an “open mind” over what might be built on the currently demolished site.

The old store, which had withstood two World Wars, was reduced to rubble after Gordon Thompson, a 33-year-old father of two from Waddon Road, set it alight during the civil unrest on August 8.

The painter and decorator admitted arson at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Trevor Reeves said it was now time to “start the process of turning the corner and moving this area and indeed all of Croydon forward”.

He added: “We would say now that we have a completely open mind about the site, but we go into this process knowing that whatever happens, it must be commercially viable for the House of Reeves.

“We are still in difficult times as regards the economy and this company has only survived five generations because it has been profitable. We cannot afford to make any mistakes.”

Among the options rumoured are a leisure complex, flats or mixed retail.

Mr Reeves said he was disappointed with recent acts of criminality at the store which had left him “deflated”.

The back office was ransacked as a thief attempted to steal lead off the roof last week.

And on Friday a Sky news camera was stolen as the channel conducted an interview with the family.

He said: “We want to call on the local community, who have been so supportive of us, to make the police aware of these type of people and give the police the ability to arrest and bring to trial these people, as they did to the perpetrator of our arson, and send a message that it is not what the community wants.”