New Londis set to open (From Oxford Mail)

New Londis set to open

2:00pm Thursday 28th July 2011 in News

AFTER months of rumour, an empty building in Headington looks set to reopen as a Londis again.

The 24-hour Londis shop in London Road closed in February, when a sign on the door said it had “gone into receivership”.

Tesco last month denied planning to open a store on the site.

Sunder Sandher from Leaming- ton Spa, last night said: “I’ve been talking to Londis and if the figures stack up, I want to take the store over.

“I hope to get in there by mid-October.”

The dad-of-two said said first on the list of things to go would be the 24-hour opening times.

The 48-year-old has run a convenience store in his hometown since he was 18.

He now hopes to open the Headington branch in addition and will look at moving wife Pam and children Karina, 17, and Josh, 13, down to Oxford.

Previous manager of the shop Palmer Singh said a lack of parking had been a major issue, which Mr Sandhar said he would be looking into.

He said: “The store looks like a prime position. I’ve been there twice, it’s got a nice feel.

“I understand passing trade in cars is gone and I saw other shops have closed. The last thing we want is for Headington to become a ghost town.”

He added: “I think I can make a good go of it.”