Woolies Indoor Market Opens in Former Woolworths

By Al_Shaw

Friday, November 13, 2009, 08:30

Businesses in Cotham and Redland are well represented in the new indoor market which opened yesterday inside the former Woolworth's store on Whiteladies Road.

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Alanah Grzybodska (pictured) of Redland Village Bakery said that they had made the move to Woolies because it was an "excellent trading location" with "brilliant potential."

The Bakery currently has three outlets in the immediate area - in Lower Redland Road, in Chandos Road and on Cotham Hill near the Post Office. "We're very much a local community business," Alannah explains. The stall inside Woolies will respond to the needs of customers, she claims, and is starting off by selling traditional breads and cakes. "A lot of bakeries have moved to selling mostly sandwiches these days. We want to keep offering a wide range of breads - Italian and spelt varieties, for instance."

The low cost of renting space inside the new Woolies was also a major draw for the Redland Bakery. Verna Pemberton (pictured), who has opened Retro Blue in the market agrees. At £52 per week for her space, which she splits with another trader to keep the cost even lower, it has made it possible for her to launch her fabrics business with minimum overheads. "I just hope the owners can resist the urge to push the rental prices up in the future and that the green-eyed monster doesn't take over." Verna offers a range of customised services including made to measure curtains and blinds, repairs to clothing and furnishings and a range of other soft furnishings. A novel angle to her business is running sewing classes for men and children. At £1.50 for a 30-minute lesson, missing shirt buttons will be a thing of the past. 

The official opening of the new Woolies market was attended by The The Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Christopher Davies. Actor David Jason was also present.

The new market runs on two floors and features a range of new and existing local businesses . Vessel's fruit and veg stall is a re-born company - the original shop ceased trading 18 years ago but has now re-opened in Woolies. Other stalls were selling sausages, leather goods, books, gifts, crafts and clothing.

With the rain lashing down outside, the attraction of a warm indoor market in the heart of Whiteladies Road is obvious.

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