The big-name businesses opening their doors in south Essex next month
There are plenty of big businesses setting up shop across south Essex next month and we have collected all you need to know right here.
The big names have not stopped coming for the area as The Range moves into the former Homebase store in Rayleigh Weir on April 25, while Waterstones is set to open in Basildon's former Superdry store in the Eastgate Shopping Centre.
Meanwhile, Mexican food chain Chipotle will open its newest branch in the Lakeside Shopping Centre on April 5.
Here's what we know about the stores:
The Range - Rayleigh Weir
The major DIY retailer confirmed earlier this month that its Rayleigh Weir store would be transformed into The Range superstore in April, and is set to feature a "Garden Centre by Homebase".
This comes after months of uncertainty following Homebase's fall into administration, with the Basildon store having been closed in February and remaining empty.
Councillors have welcomed news of the opening and believe it will serve as a boost to the entire area.
Mike Sutton, Liberal Democrat councillor for Wheatley ward, said: "It's brilliant that we've got a big strong reputable national supplier coming in, it's better to have a business like that than an empty unit.
"It's bringing more jobs, it has a fantastic range of products which are not offered in the immediate range of the area. It's great to have that on our doorstep'
'There's people that have worked at Homebase for years, hopefully there's some they can be transferred. I think this could be an excellent opportunity for the area.
'It was a shock to see the Homebase go, I can't remember a time when I didn't see the Homebase.
'It's always nice to see where some businesses are closing and others are growing, these thriving can take over.'
Waterstones - Eastgate Shopping Centre
Waterstones will move into the Eastgate Shopping Centre at the end of April, with company bosses and councillors hoping the store will bring a 'renewed sense of community' to the town centre.
The Eastgate's Waterstones will take control of the unit previously housing a Superdry store.
Dave Sheldrake, retail manager at Waterstones, said: 'We are absolutely delighted to be opening a bookshop in Basildon.
'At Waterstones, we pride ourselves on being at the heart of the community and our booksellers will always be on hand to make recommendations for books and gifts.
'We are passionate about helping our customers of all ages discover a new favourite read. From children's picture books to the latest non-fiction releases, our tables and shelves will offer something for all tastes.
'We can't wait to open our doors and to welcome the book lovers of Basildon into our beautiful new shop.'
Chipotle - Lakeside Shopping Centre
The new Grays store will be the first of its kind to open in Essex and will be opening on April 5.
It will join Wingstop which opened its location in the shopping centre in March.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Dutch Bros. adds breakfast menu to take down Starbucks
Dutch Bros. coffee started as a pure beverage rival to Starbucks and other coffee chains. It was a disruptor of sorts, as most of its locations are drive-thru only. It's a model that has been copied heavily by growing rivals like 7 Brews, but at the time it was a stripped-down, back-to-basics model. Related: One of Texas's oldest BBQ joints is closing permanently after 34 years The company literally began as cart way back in 1992, before the chain began franchising in 2000. It was a slow climb to becoming a real player, but it has steadily grown, reaching a milestone earlier this year. "On February 7, we opened shop number 1,000 in Orlando, Florida, 33 years after our founding and 3,000 miles from our original push cart in Grants Pass, Oregon. With a long runway ahead and conviction in our brand, we aim to open the next 1,000 new shops with the goal of 2,029 total shops in 2029," said CEO Christine Barone during the Dutch Bros. first-quarter earnings call. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter She is quite confident the company will reach that goal. "We see a long-term opportunity to drive sustainable transaction growth by addressing structural barriers, bringing in new customers, enhancing frequency with existing customers and sustaining ongoing momentum in the productivity of our newer shops," she added. When you look at the Dutch Bros. menu, it's almost entirely drinks. The chain has expanded beyond coffee into smoothies, lemonades, iced teas, sodas, and more. It also offers a very limited snack menu consisting mostly of muffin tops. The chain does, however, see a growth opportunity in food. Barone spoke about that as well. "We see a clear path forward with Order Ahead, throughput and food," she said. More Food: Applebee's brings back all-you-can-eat deal to take down Chili'sPopular Mexican chain reveals surprising growth plansStarbucks CEO shares plan for a whole new menu The coffee chain has been testing a small breakfast menu in a handful of locations. "We are thrilled with the success of our limited food test launched late last year and are excited to continue testing and refining this initiative throughout 2025," she added. The hot breakfast menu includes four smaller-sized items: a sausage, egg, and cheddar slider; bacon, egg, and cheddar slider; chorizo wrap; and a maple waffle, according to Nation's Restaurant News. The test will be expanded to more locations this year. The coffee chain has taken a "move slowly" approach to growth. It's going to continue to do that. "Building on the success we are having with our Order Ahead initiative, we believe food can generate incrementality in the morning day part and drive frequency. Our approach to this test is both strategic and deliberate. We recognize the potential multi-year growth opportunity with our current food mix at less than 2% of sales," Barone said. Dutch Bros. has also remained focused on making sure it keeps its workers happy. "Our goals for this test are clear: maintain existing high levels of barista job satisfaction, continue to support throughput efficiency, minimize complexity, and offer a targeted assortment that allows us to satisfy our customers' craving for food while capturing incremental beverage opportunities," she added. Barone made it clear exactly how the company decided what it adds to its menus. "The pilot test has informed our decision to now offer eight SKUs, including four hot food offerings. With the completion of an initial pilot, we recently expanded this initiative from eight to 32 shops," she shared. Related: Burger King menu adds a wild new Whopper That's only the beginning, as Dutch Bros. sees adding breakfast as a massive opportunity. "Looking ahead, expanding the food test pilot is a crucial step towards a broader test and rollout anticipated to occur throughout 2026. This expansion aims to reach a wider potential audience and positions Dutch Bros more competitively in high value routinized beverage occasions," she added. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Plans for new Lidl store in Walton-on-Thames
Budget supermarket giant Lidl has plans to open a new store in Walton-on-Thames, in Surrey. Proposals for the site on New Zealand Avenue, formerly occupied by Homebase, include up to 20 residential apartments, some of which would be affordable housing, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The multi-million-pound development would create 40 jobs if plans are granted by Elmbridge Borough Council. Lidl is holding a consultation event on Tuesday 17 June between 18:00 and 20:30 BST at Walton Cricket Club and an online consultation is now open. The plans also include rapid electric vehicle charging points, solar panels dedicated accessible and parent-and-child parking bays and covered bicycle parking. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook or X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Plans released for Surrey supermarket and houses Tesco loses High Court challenge over new Lidl store Plans for new Aldi supermarket approved on appeal Local Democracy Reporting Service Lidl Elmbridge Borough Council
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
UPS suddenly closing more stores amid chaotic new change, layoffs
It may not exactly seem like your routine errands are the backbone of modern civilization. And for the most part, that is a bit of an exaggeration. Related: Popular local Dairy Queen rival suddenly closing, no bankruptcy It's not like your weekly trip to Publix or Walgreens is holding up society like some kind of house of cards, and if you miss a week, it will all come crumbling down. But every one of us does our part. And that means our weekly runs to the grocery store, drugstore, dry cleaners, restaurant, or gas station do have an impact on both the local and broader economy. Which is part of the reason consumer spending matters. It's also why many economists bellyache over prices; a small percentage point up or down can have outsized impact on how the average consumer approaches shopping. Take eggs, for instance. As prices steadily climbed and supply dwindled over the past several months, some customers hoarded eggs for fear of a shortage. In turn, many supermarkets sold out of eggs entirely or put a limit on how many cases per customer were permitted for purchase. And prices continued to climb. It's a small way to represent just how much consumer spending matters — even if a lot of those changes take place in the margins. Consumer spending habits have changed Of course, changes in customer behavior goes both ways. In some cases, increased popularity and spending spike prices, squeezing supply. But in many cases, especially recently, a decrease in interest or shifts in routine have turned prices (and profits) ever-downward. More closings: Popular local Dairy Queen rival suddenly closing, no bankruptcyAnother big Mexican chain closing down restaurant, no bankruptcyPopular fast-food burger chain closes all restaurants in key area This is what has happened on many Main Streets across the U.S. As more of us shop online for our everyday needs, small mom-and-pop shops that cater to niche specialties — like carpets, auto parts, upholstery, crafts, or party supplies — suffer. Profits get smaller, and many stores have had to make the difficult decision to either scale down operations significantly to make ends meet — or shut down entirely. UPS makes a hard decision And sometimes, it's not just mom-and-pop shops that suffer. UPS (UPS) , a juggernaut in the U.S. shipping and fulfillment space, has weathered many changes over the past several years. The company used to work hand-in-glove with Amazon to get packages to their final destinations, but it has agreed to reduce its partnership and cut shipments by about 50% by mid-2026. Related: Subway owner makes major billion-dollar fast food acquisition It's also in the midst of modernizing its operations; it plans to close about 200 facilities around the U.S. by 2028, and intends to cut up to 20,000 jobs by the end of 2025. And now, UPS is closing three stores owned by one franchise in Pennsylvania. The UPS stores are located in: 62 Dallas Shopping Center, Dallas, Penn.1330 Main St., Dickson City, Penn.1114 Texas Palmyra Highway, Honesdale, Penn. A spokesperson said the closures are not related to the broader restructuring efforts. Rather, franchisee Dave McQueen said he was unable to sell his UPS stores and would be shuttering them in the next several weeks. A UPS store spokesperson added that the closures are 'due to the expiration of the franchise agreements, and the franchisee has elected not to renew.' The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
