Open from 7am to 11pm seven days a week, the 1,658 sq. ft store has created new jobs for local people and supporting regeneration in the neighbourhood, whilst providing a much-needed boost to retail options for local people.
Customers now have the opportunity to sample Sainsbury’s latest convenience range, from fresh fruit and veg, healthy snacks and food-to-go to sweet, savoury and frozen staples.
They'll also be able to choose from an absolutely delicious selection of freshly baked bread and pastries every day, plus pick up Argos, Habitat and Tu Clothing products ordered online via the in-store Click and Collect service. (EDITOR: I love my Tu jacket!)
Conveniently located on the corner of Wapping Lane and Green Bank, it's a mere two minutes’ walk from Wapping Rail Station.
Sainsbury’s new store is located on the ground floor of a former office building, the upper floors of which have been converted into a suite of luxury apartments by Malins Group.
The two companies have worked closely together to ensure, like the flats above it, the new Local has been sensitively designed to stay in keeping with the local area. This included updating some of the external elements originally proposed in response to community feedback.
The colleagues making up the new store team will play an active role in the local community whilst also participating in Sainsbury’s national charitable programmes and initiatives.
For example, through Sainsbury’s partnership with Neighbourly, the new Local will work with local food donation partners to help ensure any surplus food items from the store will go to those who need it most.
Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Property Director, said: “It’s been a real pleasure to welcome Sainsbury’s Wapping Lane Local to our estate this week. We’ve recognised the very real chance a new convenience store would represent for the local community in Wapping for some time now and we’ve really pulled out all the stops to bring our plans to life, making the most of an unique space in a fantastic redevelopment project. We’re delighted with the result and we think our customers will be too."
Jamie Buckland, Sainsbury’s Wapping Lane Local Store Manager, went on to say: “I felt privileged to join members of my team to cut the ribbon on our brand new store this week and we were thrilled to see a queue of customers patiently waiting outside before we opened. We know our neighbours have been looking forward to our arrival and we're really pleased to be able to welcome them for the first time today.”
Lauren Atkins, MD with The Malins Group, said: “It’s always a privilege to repurpose underutilised spaces and transform them into vibrant new ones.
"The benefits of permitted development are clear at Green Bank Lofts, where the collaborative efforts of The Malins Group and Sainsbury’s have enabled a speedy transition from unused office building to 18 apartments and thriving retail space.”