Llanelli has had its fair share of blows of late with businesses struggling to continue, particularly following the hardships of the coronavirus pandemic, but there are some reasons to be hopeful
It's not all about what's going in the town, but also what's coming and what's already arrived, with some big name retailers and smaller independent businesses setting up. Shoppers can look forward to and are already enjoying in some instances, new places to do their weekly shop, and venues to sit down and relax in afterwards.
And there are also some bigger projects on the horizon. Here's a look at how Llanelli is changing and, hopefully, will continue to change.
Aldi
Work is getting underway on the supermarket on the outskirts of Llanelli. It is being built along with a drive-thru Costa on land north of Trostre Retail Park, between the B4304 and the A484 after being given the green light by council bosses.
Shoppers flocking through its doors are expected to pour £31,342 per day into its tills, helping to generate a £11.44 million turnover in its first year. It will have parking for 128 cars and there will be a further 40 car parking spaces at Costa. Out of that total 11 will be disabled parking spaces - with eight bike spaces.
Lidl
The supermarket giant has unveiled plans to open its second store in the town - only 1.5 miles away from its first branch.
Trostre Retail Park will become home to the store after contracts were signed with Carmarthenshire Council in conjunction with the developer Arbenigol Limited. The new Lidl will include an in-store bakery, customer toilets, baby changing facilities and 130 car parking spaces and will create 40 new jobs in the town.
Iceland
Iceland Food Warehouse is on the way to the car park next to Currys PC World in Parc Pemberton.
The store will be selling chilled and frozen products, including fresh produce, in a warehouse-style setting which allows shoppers to head into the store and bulk buy. It will have 22 parking bays.
Cattle & Co
The American-style smokehouse, which already has a restaurant in Clydach, will be taking over the former Sospan site in the town.
It will be moving into the Grade II listed building in North Dock. Food including ribs, chicken wings and burgers will all be on sale at the site. The business first opened its doors as a café in the day and a smokehouse in the evenings but then moved towards selling authentic American BBQ food.
Coffi Bradley’s
Independent coffee shop Coffi Bradley’s has taken over from Burger King in the heart of the St Elli Centre. It has defied the pandemic by throwing open its doors during a tough climate by adding an extra store to its network in Wales.
It has a distinctly Welsh flavour and nods to the town’s passion for rugby in its decor.
Old Havana/Juniper Place and coffee company Carma Coffi
All three form part of a multi-million pound new bar-restaurants development heading to Llanelli.
The Y Linc development, which will connect Market Street with Eastgate and Stepney Place, is hoped to create more than 100 jobs, excluding those generated by the construction work.
Firms, including gin and restaurant operator Juniper Place, cocktail and restaurant brand Old Havana, and coffee company Carma Coffi, have all been earmarked as part of the scheme.
Hwyl Coffi
The independent coffee shop-bar has been set-up in Market Street in Llanelli. Jason and Viktoria Cross, who run The Ship Aground in Pembrey, are behind the venture.
They have refused to be held back by the coronavirus crisis from going ahead with the project.
And some more future new developments
New hotel
Llanelli could soon become home to a 140-bed hotel on the outskirts of the town.
The development has been earmarked for Niklaus Avenue in Machynys and will also offer the chance to relax, along with promoting wellness. It has been earmarked for the former Machynys brickworks site and will boast views of Burry Inlet and the Machynys golf course.
The hotel will be home to a restaurant, bar and lounge, along with meeting, conference and function rooms.
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YMCA building
The derelict YMCA building is set to be transformed into commercial units, office spaces and residential units.
The original features of the building will be kept as new life is breathed into it. It will also be home to residential units on the top floors and have parking available.
Market Street
Commercial units and apartments will be put in place of the former AItalia restaurant and Barbican pub.
The controversial scheme to transform the 19th century building, which has stood there since the 1800s, is forging ahead. It is hoped it will help to change the shopping district with its offices, bars and restaurants.
Delta Lakes
The major development includes a state-of-the-art care home and assisted living and rehabilitation centre, outdoor leisure space, a wellness hotel, along with a new leisure centre and homes.
Physical rehabilitation will also be catered for at the Delta Lakes site along with space provided for life science and health businesses. Research, training and skills development will also take place at the 83-acre site.
Calon cinema
The 1938 art-deco building has been restored to allow people to have a taste of the past.
Theatr Elli, also known as Llanelli Entertainment Centre and Llanelli Odeon, closed its doors in 2012 and was purchased two years later by William Ratti.
"This cinema is going to be one of the UK's elite and will offer an art-deco experience like nowhere else," said Mr Ratti.
It will also feature a bar and a cafe.
