Over the next two weeks, the latest stores to sign up to the new-look Abbey Wood Shopping Park will open their doors.
Major variety retailer, B&M will open today followed by national sandwich franchise, Subway on Friday 28 February.
This phase of new store openings comes after a collection of major chains opened their doors late last year following a major £10 million refurbishment and extension project.
The park is now home to Asda, Costa Coffee, Sporting Pro, Frankie & Benny’s, Nando’s, Matalan, Pets at Home, Brantano, Next Clearance and McDonalds.
The 16,000 sq ft B&M store will be the fourth in Bristol, creating a further 60 jobs for the local area. The store will be opened by representatives from St Peter’s Hospice. The charity will receive a £250 gift card donation on the day to mark the start of a new, ongoing relationship with the Filton store.
The new store will offer a wide variety of branded and own label products including groceries and toiletries as well as an extensive non-food section including toys, soft furnishings, home and gardening ranges. It will also have a prominent ‘seasonal department’ which will change throughout the year to bring customers the best offers and latest ranges.
Subway will be the first in the Filton area, creating approximately ten new jobs. This brings the total number of Subway restaurants across Bristol to 24.
To celebrate the Grand Opening of Abbey Wood Shopping Park, Subway will be introducing the ‘Real Deal’ meal deal where diners can choose from a range of freshly made 6-inch Subs and a drink for just £3.
Chris Robinson, Store Manager at B&M Abbeywood, said: “We’re really proud to be opening another store in Bristol, creating up to 60 jobs and playing our part in the local community.”
“We are excited to get the doors open on Thursday 20 February and very grateful to St Peter’s Hospice who will be officially opening our store. Our new team of colleagues will be on hand to provide great value products and world class service to our customers throughout the day”.
The redevelopment of the park has included redesigning the car park and common areas to create a public realm and developing buildings to provide new community space and leisure facilities.
The former Woolworths and TJ Hughes stores has been demolished to build nine new units ranging from 1,500 sqft – 45,251 sqft including the new ASDA store, the canopy and facades along the Northern Terrace have been renewed, further enhancing Abbey Wood as an attractive shopping destination. Artwork displaying a black and white scene of Filton Abbey Wood Station has also been installed to the rear of Costa and Nandos.
A new pedestrian foot bridge has been created to the rear of the new Frankie & Benny’s to improve the access from Filton Abbey Wood Station and the Ministry of Defence’s Abbey Wood site. In addition, bike racks have been installed for cyclists using the surrounding foot and cycle paths that link the site to Bristol Parkway Stations, the Ministry of Defence and UWE’s Frenchay campus.
The success of the redevelopment project will be celebrated at a Grand Opening event at Abbey Wood Shopping Park on Thursday 20 March. The local public can enjoy free samples, tasting, street performance and circus acts from 4pm.
