WATCH: Portsmouth's newest Lidl store is open for business
The supermarket opened its doors at 8am this morning, after filling the site that previously housed the Co-op in London Road, North End.
Bill Shannon, from Fratton, started waiting at the entrance from 5am to be the first through the door.
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Hide AdThe 66-year-old said: ‘I was expecting quite a few people here early.
‘I thought because it’s a new store I should come here on the first day to try it out.
‘It does help to generate the area a bit. North End does need a bit of a boost and it is good for the area.’
As the first shopper into the store Mr Shannon was handed a bunch of flowers and bottle of champagne.
About 40 new jobs have been created by the store.
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Hide AdStore manager Lee Whyte said he hoped the store would bring ‘a bit of life’ to North End.
He said: ‘We’ve got a fantastic team, great support from everywhere.
‘The team here is absolutely exceptional and they’re really excited to bring quality reasonably-priced food to the local community.’
Lidl’s area manager Edward Simpson said: ‘What is great is that we’re opening up a new little store right in the centre of North End, right in the middle of Portsmouth, serving the community and bringing everyday low prices to the high street.
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Hide Ad‘We’ve given 40 local jobs to the local community, so it’s great to actually feel part of North End.
‘It’s a good buzz, it’s a good start.’
The site, at the junction with Derby Road, had been vacant for about two years since the Co-op closed its doors.
A total of 41 staff were made redundant when the shop closed.
The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Ken Ellcome, cut the ribbon to officially open the store.
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Hide AdHe said: ‘Lidl are expanding their operations in the city and it looks like a very good quality store.
‘It looks good from my customer experience. When a new shop opens there is always a keen interest.’
There are two other Lidl stores in Portsmouth, in Norway Road in Hilsea and Goldsmith Avenue in Southsea, and one opened in Portchester a year ago.
Two years ago Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt urged the city council to do more to improve parking and footfall on the back of shop closures.