Post by admin on Sept 1, 2006 22:16:49 GMT 1
IT ASDA be some sort of record – a staggering 25,000 shoppers flocked to witness the opening of the new flagship Asda on Monday.
Measuring 62,000ft, costing £22M, and the result of two years’ planning, controversy and anticipation, the Rawtenstall superstore’s opening was one of the most eagerly awaited events in the Valley this year.
Mayor of Rossendale Councillor Peter Steen got to tear through a giant till roll when he carried out the official opening together with Free Press Community Champion 2006 Steven Woodall, and longest-serving Asda colleagues Kath Simthingy and Yvonne Reeve.
Councillor Steen, who hailed the store as ‘a superb retail facility for 21st century people’, congratulated the Asda management staff for their determination to combat problems and to get the store up and running.
There was certainly no lack of enthusiasm for the store – the largest Asda built in the UK this year.
Among those at the front of the queue to check it out were self-confessed ‘Asda fanatics’ Suzannah and Katie Burton.
The sisters, licensees of The Jolly Sailor in Waterfoot and The Whitchaff in Rawtenstall, said they were ardent fans of the retailer, buying ‘practically everything’ there, from clothes to groceries.
And four-year-old Leon Massey, from Helmshore, had a dream come true when he was given a special preview tour on Sunday plus a selection of goodies.
Leon’s great aunt Jacqueline Testa said: ‘He’s always loved going to Asda. He even had a dream about being the first person in the new store, so I wrote to them asking if they’d make his dream come true – and they did. It was fantastic. We were treated like royalty!’
With a bouncy castle, colourful clowns, live music and a DJ, there was plenty to entertain young and old shoppers alike as they looked round the store on Monday.
It features six new departments and a restaurant with panoramic views.
The store picked up praise from Rawtenstall’s deaf community for the support it offered to Community Champion Steven, who is profoundly deaf.
He, his wife and other deaf community members were accompanied by a signer who translate the opening tour.
Martin Taylor, who is also profoundly deaf, said: ‘Asda has a good attitude to deaf people here. Steven is the first deaf person to ever open an Asda store in this country.’
In his opening speech store manager Graham Price pledged that Asda would ‘be putting back into the community as much as we provide.’
He later told the Free Press: ‘It’s fantastic to finally be open after all the hard work. All our 200 or so colleagues are delighted; we’re proud of what we’ve achieved.’
Deborah Lewis
First published by the Rossendale Free Press
www.therossendalefreepress.co.uk
Measuring 62,000ft, costing £22M, and the result of two years’ planning, controversy and anticipation, the Rawtenstall superstore’s opening was one of the most eagerly awaited events in the Valley this year.
Mayor of Rossendale Councillor Peter Steen got to tear through a giant till roll when he carried out the official opening together with Free Press Community Champion 2006 Steven Woodall, and longest-serving Asda colleagues Kath Simthingy and Yvonne Reeve.
Councillor Steen, who hailed the store as ‘a superb retail facility for 21st century people’, congratulated the Asda management staff for their determination to combat problems and to get the store up and running.
There was certainly no lack of enthusiasm for the store – the largest Asda built in the UK this year.
Among those at the front of the queue to check it out were self-confessed ‘Asda fanatics’ Suzannah and Katie Burton.
The sisters, licensees of The Jolly Sailor in Waterfoot and The Whitchaff in Rawtenstall, said they were ardent fans of the retailer, buying ‘practically everything’ there, from clothes to groceries.
And four-year-old Leon Massey, from Helmshore, had a dream come true when he was given a special preview tour on Sunday plus a selection of goodies.
Leon’s great aunt Jacqueline Testa said: ‘He’s always loved going to Asda. He even had a dream about being the first person in the new store, so I wrote to them asking if they’d make his dream come true – and they did. It was fantastic. We were treated like royalty!’
With a bouncy castle, colourful clowns, live music and a DJ, there was plenty to entertain young and old shoppers alike as they looked round the store on Monday.
It features six new departments and a restaurant with panoramic views.
The store picked up praise from Rawtenstall’s deaf community for the support it offered to Community Champion Steven, who is profoundly deaf.
He, his wife and other deaf community members were accompanied by a signer who translate the opening tour.
Martin Taylor, who is also profoundly deaf, said: ‘Asda has a good attitude to deaf people here. Steven is the first deaf person to ever open an Asda store in this country.’
In his opening speech store manager Graham Price pledged that Asda would ‘be putting back into the community as much as we provide.’
He later told the Free Press: ‘It’s fantastic to finally be open after all the hard work. All our 200 or so colleagues are delighted; we’re proud of what we’ve achieved.’
Deborah Lewis
First published by the Rossendale Free Press
www.therossendalefreepress.co.uk