Taj the Grocer is preparing to open two new Brighton stores in the coming weeks.
The independent supermarket, which specialises in groceries from around the world, is refitting the former Poundstretcher unit ready for an August opening.
And it is also opening a new store on the Falmer campus in September.
Owner Amir Khan said the London Road store will stock all the same ranges as its flagship Western Road store, but on a smaller scale.
He said: “It’s going to be opening in mid-August. There will be fresh and organic foods, international produce, a deli counter and a meat counter.
“It’s very exciting. We’ve been fitting out the store since April.”
The former Poundstretcher unit at 46-47 London Road is owned by Julien Richer, the founder of Richer Sounds, which has a store a few doors down.
JR Properties last year applied to demolish the unit and build a four-storey building in its place. The application is still outstanding.
But Mr Khan said Taj had taken out a long lease on the site, and was intending on staying there indefinitely.
Dowsett Mayhew, the planning consultancy which is acting as an agent for JR Properties, said the owner did not want to disclose their future plans for the store.
Taj previously had a store on the corner of St James’s Street, opposite the Old Steine. This closed in 2010, and was taken over by Sainsbury’s.
Its flagship store on Western Road, opposite Waitrose, expanded into the unit next door at around the same time.
Whole of London Road needs knocking down and rebuilding. Should put 10 storie buildings there as its in a valley, sort out the housing crisis.
They would probably turn them into yet more student accommodation, which does nothing to sort out the housing crisis.
Students need to live somewhere. If they live in new dedicated student accommodation they are not living in houses that families can live in. It is directly fixing the housing crisis!
Great news about the Taj opening up on London Road.
They should restore all the art deco buildings to their former glory.
It was a shame that they were forced from St James Street by Sainsbury. Money talks
Great news for us to have a store like Taj. Sad to read that owner of property wants to pull building at the threat of more student accom. It is time for residents have more say on this area.
This is brilliant news! Now I’ll have a choice of Taj and Pamir grocers.