Shoppers’ delight as Tesco set to make a return to Sunderland city centre
There is set to be a supermarket in Sunderland city centre again as Tesco wants to open a new Express store just outside The Bridges.
Tesco has applied to Sunderland City Council for a licence to sell alcohol at a new Tesco Express store at Unit 62 The Bridges, Market Square. The unit, next to Halifax bank and opposite Café Nero, would allow the new shop to stay open after the main Bridges shopping centre has closed, unlike the former Tesco Metro inside The Bridges which was unable to stay open late at night.
People living in the city centre, and shoppers from across Sunderland, had complained that the town was lacking a proper replacement for the former Tesco store which closed in April 2022.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat councillor for Millfield, Thornhill and the city centre Niall Hodson said: “Sunderland city centre is desperately lacking a small supermarket that can open late - so this news that Tesco look set to open a new Express Store in Market Square that can stay open even when The Bridges is closed is fantastic news.
“This should help bring people back into Sunderland if they know they can pick up bits from Tesco at the same time as visiting other shops, cafés and pubs in our city centre.
“It will also be warmly welcomed by city centre residents. People living in Astral, Solar and Planet Houses and across the city centre have been particularly hard hit without a proper supermarket in the town to get their shopping, with many saying that Iceland or M&S didn’t allow them to get everything they need."
“I look forward to the new Tesco store opening as quickly as possible so that shoppers and city centre residents can benefit from having a supermarket back in the town again.”