The countdown is on until there is finally a permanent replacement for Swansea's long-time empty former Toys R Us store.
The famous old toy shop, which traded in Parc Tawe Retail Park for generations, closed its doors for a final time on April 22, 2018, when the company went into administration. But the future of the unit is now secure, with the store currently being revamped to create the new home for an Aldi supermarket.
For months, construction work has been underway to transform the massive unit ready for the supermarket's arrival, and the outside of the store has been boarded off by a demolition company which has been hard at work to put plans into place.
Now, it has been revealed exactly when the store is set to open. The first official day of trading will be Thursday, September 30 . And ahead of welcoming its very first customers, Aldi is now hard at work recruiting staff to be the first ones to work there. A number of roles are available.
It's not the only new business coming to Parc Tawe. We reported earlier this month how Flashpoint looked set to create a brand new bouldering and climbing centre next door to Aldi. Centurion Parc Tawe Ltd, the owners of the south side of the retail park, have asked Swansea Council's planning department for permission to transform the use of units 5A and 5B from retail use to leisure use.
A new restaurant called Double Zero has also opened at the park, as has a new kitchen sales showroom. The Department for Work and Pensions has also been granted planning permission to change the use of unit seven from retail to financial and professional services.
The retail park recently extended its free parking offering from two hours to three after complaints from customers that they were still getting fined for parking there while going on a trip to the cinema, bowling, or for a meal, despite a system in place which promised to extend stays when vehicle registration numbers were logged.
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