Crowds decend on new Thame food store – 10/03/10

AN early crowd gathered in Thame High Street this morning for the grand opening of a new Sainsburys store in the town.

Town Crier, Tony Legge, rang his bell and Cried the news to the townsfolk. Then the crowd counted down from ten, led by store manager, Jason Mariett, before the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, cut the ribbon and declared the store officially open.

A bouquet of flowers was presented to one of the first customers in the queue, Siofra Sims, aged 4, and her mum Fiona.

The Mayor said: “When I became Mayor one of my aspirations for the year was too see the empty shops
re-let and so I was delighted to receive the letter from Sainsburys, back in August, telling
me of their intentions.

“I visited almost all of the independent shops along the High Street to ask them what they thought about Sainsburys coming to Thame and the whole response
was positive. We now have three supermarkets and only one empty shop. The more shopping diversity we have in Thame, the more visitors we will have to Thame.

“I wish Sainsburys every success with their venture as success for Sainsburys also means success for Thame.”

Store Manager, Jason Marriett told ThameNews.Net: “I am absolutely ecstatic about the response from the people of Thame on our opening day. Its been a long time coming – the re-fit took longer than we expected. One of the problems was that we are on the site of an old pub and we discovered a cellar!”

Thame’s is Sainburys 850th store to open, since the first in Drury Lane, London, 140 years ago.

THE TOWN CRIERS HISTORIC CRY:

“Oyez Oyez Oyez
In Thame town centre today’s the day
When Sainsburys open their nice new shop
So don’t walk by, in you pop
To see what goodies they have in store
I guarantee you’ll be back for more
You’ll find shopping here lots of fun.
Now I’ve said that, my work is done.

God Bless you all.
God Bless Thame.
God save the Queen.”