It is 38 days until a brand new Marks and Spencer store opens in Leeds.
A megastore will open in White Rose Shopping Centre on Thursday, May 25, as part of a nationwide development to expand and improve the supermarket's sites. While there is already an M&S in White Rose, the new store will be three times bigger and welcome 230 new job opportunities.
The development will open into a large unit vacated by Debenhams, in Dewsbury Road, after the company collapsed on the back of Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis. Pictures show what the new store will look like, which will feature a food hall, clothing, home and beauty departments as well as an M&S Café.
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Exterior images show a huge unit and large entranceway, as well as plenty of parking spaces. The café has a modern style with neon signs reading 'a cup of ambition'. Customers can expect "delicious, quality food at great value", and a "seamless experience in a fantastic environment", a spokesperson for Marks and Spencer said.
There is a flower shop in the M&S store, and a large bakery with three isles of fresh pastries, and bread loafs. The beauty department will sell beloved beauty, hair, and makeup brands, from Clinique to L’Occitane, Philip Kingsley, Autograph & Formula.
On Sunday, April 16, an update was shared on social media, reading: "Bigger. Bolder. Better. In just 38 days we’re taking M&S - Leeds White Rose into the stratosphere, relocating the store to a new site previously occupied by Debenhams.
"We’re bringing together the very best of physical and digital retail to make your shopping experience more convenient and enjoyable. We cannot wait to show you all some behind the scenes action and what we’ve got in store for opening day!
"Keep your eyes peeled." Store manager Justine Brook said: "Our local community is at the heart of M&S, so to be able to create 230 new job opportunities in Leeds is truly fantastic.
"We are working closely with local job centres and employability schemes to find and train the best applicants from the local area for the wide variety of roles that are available, including bakers, visual merchandisers and customer assistants."
The retailer is also working with local employability schemes such as the Marks and Start programme, run in partnership with The Prince’s Trust to help young people aged 16-30 find employment, to recruit for positions across the store, from customer assistants and bakers to visual merchandisers and operations roles.
20 new stores are opening across the country. M&S said that five of its new, relocated branches will take over former Debenhams units as part of its "commitment to regeneration".
To find out the latest shopping in our city you can visit our Best in Leeds homepage. There you will also find a guide to great things to do in Leeds.
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