6 days ago
Lidl confirms opening date for new Alexandria store - and customers can get freebies
Lidl has confirmed its new store in Alexandria will open on Thursday June 5 and shoppers can get their hands on some freebies over the opening weekend
Lidl has announced that its new store in Alexandria will open its doors this week. The budget supermarket chain is inviting locals to join them for the store's 'grand opening' weekend.
Throughout the opening weekend, Lidl shoppers will be offered complimentary food tasting and some special prizes via Lidl Plus. The new store in Mitchell Way opens its doors for the first time on Thursday, June 5.
The store will be open between 8am and 10pm from Monday to Saturday and 8am until 8pm on Sundays.
The store spans 1,251-square metres and includes Lidl's popular in-store bakery, iconic Middle of Lidl, and customer facilities - including toilets with baby-changing stations. Outside, there will be plenty of parking for bicycles and cars, including electric vehicle chargers.
The multi-million pound investment is also set to boost the local economy by creating around 40 new jobs, with the retailer saying that staff receive one of the highest rates of pay in the sector.
Ross Jackson, Regional Head of Property at Lidl GB, expressed his enthusiasm about the supermarket's new outlet in Alexandria, saying: "We're thrilled to be joining the community in Alexandria and are excited to welcome the first shoppers through our doors.
"For three decades we've been creating Lidl fans across Scotland and are excited to now bring our second store to West Dunbartonshire so even more households can enjoy our much-loved products.
"Thank you to everyone who has played a part in helping to make this store a reality. It's always an exciting moment when we're finally able to see our plans come to life and make a difference to local communities."
In preparation for the grand opening of its latest store, Lidl is inviting Primary schools in the vicinity to partake in the Lidl Foodies Programme. This complimentary programme, backed by a £500,000 investment from the retailer, provides teachers with resources to inspire children throughout the nation to develop a passion for healthy eating.
Back in April, shoppers got their hopes up when it was revealed that the store was to finally open on May 15. However, Lidl later clarified that this date had been provided in error and customers would have to wait a bit longer as the official opening had "yet to be finalised".
Work on the construction of the new store got underway last June. The long-awaited new store is key to plans aimed at breathing new life into the heart of the Vale - replacing the eyesore Mitchell Way.
The supermarket giant had been targeting a move to the Vale for almost a decade, with proposals taking a major step forward in November 2022 as it applied for planning permission.
Plans were approved by West Dunbartonshire Council in June of 2023.
Demolishing Mitchell Way and the new Lidl store are key components of £12million plans to transform the Vale.
However, the move has faced criticism with the new store built at the back of Mitchell Way, on Bank Street - leading to fears it will divert more people away from the already struggling Main Street.
In November 2022 Janice Ross of the Vale of Leven Trust said: 'We're not saying no to Lidl, that's fine.
'The issue is where it is. All they are doing is continuing to extend the town centre - to the detriment of the other traders.
'It feels like that approach of doing something rather than nothing.
'But no thought has been given to if this something is what the Vale needs.'
After being approved last year, the SNP's Ian Dickson said it would 'be remembered as the day Labour signed the death warrant' for the town – after councillors agreed to slash the car park's time limit to just 90 minutes.
