This week has seen the opening of the much-loved independent retailers – General Stores – over in MediaCityUK, greatly improving the food and drink offerings in the area, which mostly revolved around Booths for years.
The innovative neighbourhood retail brand has brought the very best of the General Store concept to MediaCityUK with the launch of its first two-storey venue, offering up everything from food & drink to homeware, plus a coffee shop, alcohol emporium, rotating Street Food vendors, local fresh baked goods and zero-waste, household essential refill stations.
The region’s most sought-after independent food brands will be in stock, from Nell’s Pizza to The Great North Pie Company, and will all sit alongside the convenience store essentials, from toothpaste to toilet paper and baked beans to bread.
An on-site coffee counter will serve up freshly ground Ancoats Coffee, as well as juices, smoothies and cold brews. There also will be a constantly changing street food vendor, and regular guest spots in the new store from the likes of Just Natas and Cafe Lupo Italiano who will be popping in with fresh, local bakes, cakes and more.
There will be an outdoor seating area for up to 30 covers coming soon after launch, so customers will be able to a grab coffee and food to go or enjoy with a view of MediaCityUK.
The new venue is the first in the Store Group to be designed by Youth Studios, the Manchester designers responsible for some of the city’s high profile new residential spaces. The arrival of General Store in Salford also means the Store Retail Group will create twenty new jobs as the group looks to expand its new team, with new roles in retail and hospitality created.
Mital Morar, Founder of Store Retail Group said: “I’m really excited to serve the unique and diverse community at MediaCityUK. It is an amazing place and we’re looking forward to bringing something new to the area. It feels like a really special opportunity to be able to expand the business at such an exciting destination and to be so central to it.
“General Store MediaCityUK will be all about keeping things fresh – it’s a brand-new design for the store, it’s going to look brilliant – and also we’re very much about keeping the offer different and ever-changing too. We see this as an exciting step on our growth journey, as we continue to develop our brand, and we can’t wait to welcome customers to MediaCityUK”
Chris Reay Property Director for MediaCityUK said: “MediaCityUK is committed to supporting local, independent operators and the General Store MediaCityUK will bring a unique experiential retail experience right into the heart of our community.
“The Store Retail Group has continuously proven to have a positive impact on local communities, and their compelling offer spans everything from store cupboard staples through to sustainable, artisan products which our fast-growing residential and worker community demand. We are thrilled that the Store Retail Group have identified MediaCityUK as a place they want to be part of.”
Ollie Collinge – Co-Founder at YOUTH Studio said:
“We were lucky enough to be able to work with a store owner as forward-thinking and passionate as Mital, and it meant we could really push the boundaries with design and collaboration. It’s been a pleasure to help roll out the brand in this new location, cementing General Store as a cultural destination in its own right.”
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General Store MCUK is open now.
