New Bolton town centre store aiming to breathe new life into high street opens
Ideal Home and Food Hall opened at 8.30am in the space once occupied by Wilko and then Poundland in Deansgate, with a special five per cent discount for the first 1,000 customers.
Mayor of Bolton, Cllr David Chadwick, and former Bolton Wanderers winger David Lee were in attendance at the store.
Operations manager Thomas Berry said: "We're hoping to get a lot of customers in, we've had a lot of interest, so it's nice to see people coming in for the first time.
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"I'm a massive Wanderers fan, so to get a legend like David Lee in is fantastic to see, and it shows what sort of establishment we are that the mayor of Bolton has come down."
(Image: NQ) The store will eventually be across two floors, but due to a "hiccup", as Thomas described it, the bottom floor will be opening a few days later than the rest of the store.
"We apologise severely for that and we've brought in a five per cent discount as a result," Thomas added.
Former Wanderers winger David Lee met staff and customers (Image: NQ) As for prices, a six-pack of Walkers cheese and onion crisps is listed for £2.20, a box of 80 PG Tips teabags is £3.29, two brioche burger buns are 67p, and an extra-thick white bloomer loaf is £1.80.
The business will aim to breathe new life into the town's high street, which has been hit hard in recent years by the loss of high profile names like Marks & Spencer.
The store will be offering five per cent off food shopping for university students, old-age pensioners and disabled people, NHS staff, police officers and firefighters.
The company also has plans to set up other stores in Edinburgh and Darlington.
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