Historic moment as doors open at new John Lewis

Marc Astley
Authored by Marc Astley
Posted Friday, October 12, 2012 - 9:30am

This was the moment the doors opened for the first time at the new Exeter John Lewis store.

Branch manager Kate Connock chatted to partners and VIP guests ahead of the official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Outside queues quickly grew with hundreds of people waiting excitedly.

The shop, which has created 300 new jobs, is the retailer’s first full line flexible format department store and the largest John Lewis shop to open in 2012.

Before the doors opened, Kate, gave a speech to her team of Partners (staff) about the role they will play in bringing the John Lewis offer to the residents of Devon and Cornwall for the very first time and thanked them for their hard work and dedication in the run up to today.

To officially open John Lewis Exeter, a ribbon was cut by representatives from the three local organisations the shop is supporting as part of its charitable giving scheme, Community Matters; St Petrock’s, FORCE Cancer Charity and Balloons. Helping them with the honour was Mrs Joan Monaghan from Branscombe, near Seaton. Having worked at John Lewis between 1944 and 1952, Joan was thrilled to be a part of today’s grand opening and has championed for a shop to open in the area since moving here 16 years ago.

From 8am, over 150 customers queued around the corner of Sidwell Street in Exeter city centre eagerly awaiting the chance to explore more than 40,000 product lines across fashion, beauty, consumer electronics, home and nursery.

Kate said: “From the moment we announced we would be opening a shop in Exeter the response from the local community has been incredible and I’m thrilled to now be able to welcome shoppers through the doors. Together with my 300-strong team of Partners I am looking forward to meeting customers over the coming weeks and months and helping them discover the full John Lewis assortment.”

John Harvey, Exeter City Centre Manager commented: “Over the past few years we have been working hard to revive the High Street and provide local residents with the best selection of retailers, restaurants and leisure facilities in Exeter and the surrounding area. The arrival of John Lewis fits with our plans to bring some of the country’s most loved retailers to the city and I believe that today’s opening will help to strengthen Exeter’s appeal to the wider Devon and Cornwall community.”

John Lewis Exeter will be open Monday to Wednesday from 9am until 7pm, Thursday from 9am until 8pm, Friday and Saturday from 9am until 7pm and Sunday from 11am until 5pm (plus Sunday browse time from 10.30am till 11am).

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