The latest venue from much loved independent retail group General Store has now opened at Deansgate Square, the city’s hottest new residential development.
The super supermarket will be open to the general public, as well as servicing more than 3,000 residents in the skyscrapers surrounding the city’s only riverside square. The new General Store retail outlet brings the very best of the Store Group’s trademark ‘corner shop’ concept to a new 4,500sq ft unit.
General Store Deansgate Square’s shopping experience champions local makers and covers everything from food and drink to basic essentials, stocking the largest retail offering out of all of the brand’s venues. There is also an alcohol emporium with a special tasting area, plus a counter groaning with local fresh baked goods and essential household refill stations where customers can fill their own containers with dry goods with zero-waste.
Customers will be able to purchase some of the region’s most sought-after independent food brands including Nell’s Pizza, pies from The Great North Pie Company, and vegan ready meals from The Ottomen. Along premium brands will be convenience store essentials, from toothpaste to toilet paper and baked beans to bread.
An on-site coffee counter will serve freshly ground Ancoats Coffee, as well as juices, smoothies and cold brews. There also will be regular opportunities for local producers and suppliers to feature their wares in the new store with guest spots. Local favourites including Just Natas and Cafe Lupo Italiano who will be popping in with fresh local bakes, cakes and other goodies.
General Store Deansgate Square is located on the ground floor of the amenity building, not far from Deansgate train station and First Street.
Founded in 2006 by Mital Morar, the company is about blending traditional, independent convenience store values with a modern, innovative shopping experience. Having grown up in a corner shop, Mital is passionate about independent retail and serving the local community.
His convenience store brand ‘General Store’ has five sites with neighbourhood shops in Ancoats, Moss Side, Castlefield, Salford and MediaCityUK. Two new stores at Deansgate Square and Kampus are coming soon with more to be announced. This means five new launches for the group in 2021, with more exciting plans to come. The arrival of the latest General Store has created 25 new jobs as the group looks to expand its new team, with new roles having been created in retail and hospitality.
“Things have come together at Deansgate Square,” says Mital. “We’ve been working behind the scenes to make this a truly special experience for the community with a lot of exciting new collaborations on the horizon. We see this as an important moment on our journey, and we can’t wait to share everything we have been working on and bring our concept to this part of the city.”
Mital also owns The Foodhalls brand which includes Stretford Foodhall where three rotating street food traders serve a 130 cover foodhall space with a General Store, a bar, great tunes and a florist too. Similar concepts have been announced for Sale and Northwich and more announcements for that side of the business are also expected soon.
The new Deansgate Square venue has been designed by Youth Studios, the Manchester designers responsible for some of the city’s high profile new residential spaces. They have incorporated striking neon lights, a digital ticker tape style LED display and futuristic shopping aisles.
For more information follow @generalstores_ on social media.
image credit: Adam Pester