Bid to restore store to its ‘former glory’

A BUSINESS owner hopes to bring back the “buzz” to the West End of Dundee with the reopening of a supermarket.

Eros Ltd has submitted an application to the council to take charge of operating the former Nisa store on the city’s Perth Road, which closed down suddenly in January.

Director Harris Aslam, who runs the company with fellow director Raza Rehman, said they want to restore the abandoned shop to its “former glory”.

He said: “We are considering several concepts for the store, including operating it as part of the Greens brand, similar to the one we operate in Tillicoultry.

“The Perth Road site is in a very good location, and it was unfortunate to see the shop close when it did.

“We want to return the store to its former glory, and bring a bit of a buzz back to that area of the West End.

“We will work closely with the local community and make the store exciting to visit.”

The company runs Nisa-branded stores in Leven, Kirkcaldy, Markinch and Alloa.

Mr Aslam confirmed they plan on opening the store, if the licence is approved, by spring, but they would not be taking over the running of the Broughty Ferry store, which closed at the same time.

West End councillor Fraser Macpherson welcomed the news.

He said: “I am pleased to see that a new operator for the Nisa store in Perth Road appears to be taking shape. It is good news for the Perth Road shopping area that this — the largest shop unit on Perth Road — looks like being open again in the near future.

“The council has now established a working group to work with businesses in the Perth Road to promote the shopping area and it is good news that the number of empty shop units is reducing.

“We are confident there is a bright future for the area and will be taking a number of initiatives in the coming months to further assist the shopping area.”

The closure of the Perth Road supermarket followed several months of speculation over the store’s future, sparked by emptying shelves and depleted stock levels.

Residents in Broughty Ferry were left without a Post Office branch after the Ferry store, which was operated by the same then owner, shut down.

The former Nisa store on Perth Road.