ASDA opened its Cheylesmore store this week and invited two charitable city residents to cut the ribbon.
Rosie Abbott from Coundon and Zoe Dronfield from Stivichall were selected from dozens of ‘local hero’ nominations and handed £50 each to spend in the Daventry Road store, as well as £50 each for a charity of their choice.
Despite battling a life-threatening brain tumour, 13-year-old Rosie has found time to raise money for several charities including Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
And 33-year-old Zoe responded to suffering a vicious attack by setting up her own charity – ‘I want my Mummy’ – to support mothers in custody battles with abusive ex-partners.
The supermarket giant’s new store opened on Monday (October 6) on the site of the old Cheylesmore pub.
Features include pizza and bakery counters and a ‘click and collect’ service, allowing customers to do their shopping online and collect it the same day.
Eager customers were rewarded with golden envelopes giving the first 200 through the door the chance to win up to £100 of store credit.
Store Manager Keith Burden, said: “It’s an exciting time for Coventry and this new development will help to boost the attractiveness of the city centre, as well as enabling residents in to do their shopping locally, rather than having to travel to other areas.
“It is important for us to work and communicate with the local community and highlight our commitment to the city and we hope the new Asda Coventry Daventry Road can become an important local facility for the local community to benefit from.”
Plans for the controversial store were originally given the go-ahead by the city council in January 2012 before angry locals launched a judicial review against the decision and won on a technicality.
The derelict site lay empty while months of delays set in but residents finally gave up their long battle when planning permission was again granted late last year.
Store Manager Keith Burden highlights some of the offers available. 41.014.011.cov.jm6
Eager shoppers queued for more than two hours in the pouring rain in hope of getting a golden envelope. 41.014.011.cov.jm1
It was all smiles as the new store opened its doors, but it took nearly two years and a court battle to secure planning permission. 41.014.011.cov.jm7
