Worcester Park Surrey (661): Opening

Waitrose Worcester Park opened on the longest day of the year on 21st June 2000. This saw the Somerfield conversion project pass the halfway mark, in a way that you can’t see the joins in the two supermarket chains. As reported in the Partnership’s in-house magazine The Gazette.

The shop was only two years old at the time, so architects were able to use lots of original fixtures and just add minor, but vital, design touches to produce the ‘Waitrose’ look.

Behind the scenes, there was limited space, so the team had to work hard to provide adequate facilities for Partners, taking seven weeks in total.

The central location, situated close to the station, just off the area’s main shopping road and next to a large car park, proved an ideal place to open a new Waitrose branch.

Ex-Somerfield staff were reported to have taken the transfer of the store well, now working as Partners for Waitrose. “The staff already knew how to run a supermarket, but after an intensive six-week training course they know how to do it the Waitrose way,” Branch Manager David Lower commented.

Facilities available at the branch include food service counters, customer toilets, fresh flowers and an extensive wine collection.

Address: Stone Pl, Worcester Park KT4 8DX