The new store located on the former college site finally opened this morning at 8.00am
The store was officially opened by Oakham Mayor Cllr Michael Haley, which could explain
the low turn out. I stayed away until he had gone. I was pleased to see the deputy mayor Peter Ind
doing a spot of shopping, he said the store was nice.
Some people wanted a Waitrose and then a Sainsbury.
Around five years ago Waitrose met with Rutland County Councillor at a local hotel bar to present their plans and in the words of a Waitrose employee referring to the Cllrs who ignored all planning rules and accepted hospitality "they drunk the bar dry, like pigs at a trough.
The Rutland Times put the final nail in the coffin a few months later after they publish a front page
article stating Waitrose would be giving a gift to Rutland County Council if planning was approved.
This is when Waitrose pulled out.
The Sainsbury's who had wanted to build on the current Aldi Site obtain planning permission and started chopping trees down 4 years ago to this week. Work was halted and the land sold after they run into financial problems around the same time Tesco announced it would not be expanding its
Oakham store.
I think the store is well presented and the cheese twists from the bakery are delicious.
The are gifts for customers who spend over £20 each week for the next six weeks if they pick up
a welcome card.
This weeks gift is a box of Belgium Chocolates.
