A new store has opened to serve neighbours in Reading, with the honours being done by the MP for the area.
The South Whitley Superstore was opened today (Thursday, May 15), selling a range of convenient items for shoppers in the neighbourhood.
The superstore is taking over from an independent supermarket that recently closed along the row of shops in Northumberland Avenue, near its roundabout junction with Buckland Road, Cressingham Road and Long Barn Lane.
The grand opening of the South Whitley Superstore involved a cake-cutting ceremony, with the honours being done by Yuan Yang, the Labour MP for Earley and Woodley.
Deep Khalsa, the store manager said: “we are here to provide the best for the neighbourhood and to make sure that the neighbours get the best prices out here.
“We’ve got a lot of offers going on for drink bottles, Coke and Diet Coke.
“We’ve got vapes on offer as well.
“We’re also holding a raffle, everyone who spends £10 with us will be entered into a raffle where they can win £25, £50 and £100 worth of store credit.”
The raffle closes at 7pm on May 15.
Staff put up a balloon arch to welcome customers, with guests of the opening enjoying a buffet of spring rolls, samosas, croissants and other baked items.
The superstore was stocked range of cooking ingredients, snacks, energy drinks and alcoholic drinks.
A smoking pipe was also seen on a shelf opposite the till.
Welcoming the opening, Ms Yang said: “It’s great to be invited by Deep Khalsa, who opened the shop here in Whitley, it’s always really good to see family businesses opening and particularly to see the investment into our high streets.
“I really appreciate the way that they’ve done up the shop front.
“I think local people will want to see their high streets looking well cared for, and that’s where shop owners and their shop fronts have a really big role to play.”
The address, 238-240 Northumberland Avenue, was previously occupied by Costcutter, Simply Fresh and Good One, which had a butcher’s serving fresh halal meat, poultry and fish.
Staff and guests could be seen holding a Sikh prayer in a private area of the store.
Good One closed earlier this year.
Mr Khalsa said: “The store was vacant for at least month, but yeah, here we are.
“After a month, a lot of customers have been waiting for us to open.”
The South Whitley Superstore is now open from 7am to 10.30pm daily.
The store is located in the Church ward of Reading Borough, which is part of Ms Yang’s constituency.
