Co-op gets £850k makeover and free community space
A CO-op store in a Derby suburb has a new look following a £800,000 refurbishment – and it also has a coffee shop and a room free to use for community groups and organisations.
The Central England Co-op branch in Burton Road, Littleover, has received the investment over the past two years.
Additionally, more than £50,000 has been spent on a new community space at the rear of the store’s Insomnia coffee shop.
The store’s adjoining coffee shop, run by the independent coffee shop chain which has more than 150 stores across Ireland, opened its doors in August, last year.
Central England Co-op vice-president Elaine Dean joined store manager Tony Wills to cut the ribbon on the community room, which will be used for member gatherings and classes, but will also be free to use for local community groups and organisations.
Tony said: “We are all really thrilled to have had this investment. The additional ranges have really got people excited and the food to go offer is absolutely brilliant.
“The customer feedback already has been really positive, and it is great to have everything completed and to have such an exciting, transformed store for our local community.
“The whole project has been a real success – the addition of the Insomnia Coffee Shop last year has been huge and has been really welcomed by customers and members.
“We are delighted to also now offer space on site for our member groups and which is also free to use for the local community to hold meetings and events, as we truly become a community hub for Littleover.”
The final phase of the work on the store has now been completed with £177,000 invested in a range of new features, such as a zero-waste refill station, a large range of food-to-go options such as an Insomnia Coffee Machine, Tango Ice Blast, F’real Milkshake and Rollover hot dog machines, free water refills, squeeze your own orange juice and new self-checkout tills.
The store, which has also had new signage and decoration installed inside, is open Monday to Saturday from 7am to 9pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.