A popular Asian grocery store was last night set to re-open after a mystery two-week closure.

The Eastern and Continental Store in Cowley Road, East Oxford, closed on July 20 and the shop had been left shuttered up ever since.

It is among the road’s most long-standing businesses, and will have been open for 36 years this October.

Kas Ali, whose father Mohammed Mehrban runs the business, said the “issue” causing the closure had now been resolved but would not elaborate on the reasons for closure.

But Mr Ali said his father was finishing the details needed to reopen.

He said: “It’s all resolved now and we are back in business.

“Hopefully everything will be back to normal very soon.”

The shop sells fresh fruit, spices, Asian ingredients and general grocery items.

Mr Ali said: “We want to apologise to any of our customers for any inconvenience we have caused.”

He said the reason for the closure was “nothing serious”.

Former St Mary’s ward councillor Craig Simmons, who lives in the East Oxford area, said: “It is part of the character and history of the Cowley Road and if any shop like that is lost, the area starts to lose its character.

“That is what makes it a special place.”