The question of what is to replace Ruddington’s former Sainsbury’s Local on Dutton’s Hill was answered this week – when a new banner (pictured above) appeared outside.
Dutch retailer SPAR is soon to move into 12-14 Wilford Road – having itself been replaced by a Sainsbury’s On The Go only last summer at our Loughborough Road filling station. So, effectively, the store chains will have swapped village shops – although the former Grice’s premises are slightly larger and therefore should allow for a more comprehensive range of stock.
Ruddington’s new SPAR outlet is set to open on Wednesday 3rd March 2021* and will be run by Ram Devabhai, who already has another small convenience store in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. He reveals: “We will be stocking County Bridge meats, offering great value meal solutions, a large range of chilled and good off-licence section along with top-up grocery and essentials. More exciting additions will also be made over the coming months.”
It’s only a week since Sainsbury’s closed its doors for the final time after just over a decade on Dutton’s Hill. Before that, longer term residents will recall it was Grice’s of Ruddington – one of our village’s most famous family firms – which was first established as a workshop and garage there in 1909. It had moved to West Bridgford by the time it went out of business in 2016. The premises were sold a year later, however Sainsbury’s lease continued – until they terminated it early, this year.
The total sales area of 3,881 square feet means, unlike our larger Co-op, Ruddington’s new SPAR shop will be permitted to open for long hours seven days a week – thought likely to be 7am until 11pm each day, like its predecessor. As an ‘essential retailer’ it will be allowed to open even if we’re still in ‘lockdown’ provided that the usual COVIDsafe ‘social distancing’ and ‘test and trace’ measures are put in place.
*UPDATE 3rd MAR 2021: This shop has not opened today, as was originally planned. RUDDINGTON.info is attempting to find out the reason for the delay and will bring you further updates once we have them.
