Merrion Centre to offer shoppers an Oriental taste

The lunch choices for Leeds city centre shoppers has just been given a cultural boost with the opening of a new authentic Oriental supermarket and Bubble Tea bar at the Merrion Centre on Woodhouse Lane.

Opening 23rd July, the new Sing Kee Chinese supermarket and café will create 20 jobs.

Karen Lee, founder of Sing Kee, has signed a 10 year lease with landowners, Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS)for a 3,650 sq ft site.

This marks the third opening for Sing Kee, which has existing stores in Leeds and Bradford.

A family-run business, Sing Kee started supplying local takeaways via delivery vans in 1987. Exactly 20 years later, the Oriental supermarket opened a flagship store on Cross Stamford Street and now delivers nationwide to restaurants and takeaways alongside supplying families with their weekly groceries.

Karen Lee said: “It’s fantastic to be able to open our second city centre store and to bring our offering to the Merrion Centre and its shoppers.

“We want customers to feel as if they have been transported to Far East Asia when they step through our doors, we offer fresh and frozen food and sushi with a western twist. We are confident that the Merrion Centre shoppers will really enjoy our helpful approach, we want to guide and help customers who are keen to try new ingredients and recipes but don’t know where to start.”

The new supermarket will also house bubble tea bar alongside a small cash and carry.

Helen Green, associate director of estates for Town Centre Securities PLC, commented: “As a nation we are increasingly keen on expanding our culinary horizons and experiencing authentic quality foods in different environments. At TCS, we are proud of our Leeds heritage and it is great to be able to once again support local independent retailers with their expansion plans

“The Merrion Centre has always offered a wide range of choice to its customers. Sing Kee strengthens the food and convenience store offering on Woodhouse Lane, which already houses Sainsbury Local, Wilkinson’s, Pita Pit and an entrance to Morrisons, which is currently part way through an expansion. “