A FAMILY firm is opening a new shop in Wallingford’s former Waitrose branch.
The owners of household store Circle 7 are fitting out the shop, which has been empty since the supermarket moved to the other end of the Market Place five years ago.
Director Harpreet Samra, 31, and wife Sharn, 31, said the shop, part of a 10-strong chain across the Thames Valley, could open as early as tomorrow, selling hardware, kitchenware, home furnishing and bedding.
Circle 7 has been unable to secure the lease for a 3,000 square foot section adjoining the post office which is still owned by Waitrose, but will have a rolling two-year lease on the remaining 11,000 square feet, owned by Co-op Property Group.
When workmen arrived on site, they found the lights and electric doors were still controlled from Waitrose’s UK headquarters.
The shop has had to be rewired.
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