Friends Convenience Store to open in Darlington town centre

Friends Convenience Store is preparing to launch in the former Durtona Kitchens and Bathrooms at 38 Blackwellgate in the town centre.

Construction works are currently ongoing at the store - with a new sign recently being erected with the store’s logo above the main windows. 

The name and logo of the store is a clear nod to the popular 90s TV show of the same name, with the logo even featuring a similar font to the hit American series. 

The Friends Convenience Store on Blackwellgate in Darlington (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

While details around what the store will sell are currently unknown, signs state the store has opening times of 8am until 3am every day.

The store currently remains empty bar a few shelves, with visible work on the exterior spotted taking place on Friday (November 8) afternoon.

Plans for the site were lodged with Darlington Council in earlier this year for some external changes to the site, and were approved in May. 

These proposals included the removal of the existing external rear staircase and the installation of a spiral staircase, as well as rendered wall and boundary wall alterations. 

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38 Blackwellgate was previously put on the market with a rent of £30,000 per year.

It was described as a “superb opportunity” at the time being adjacent to the ever-popular busy day trading “Top Row” location. 

No news on an opening date has been confirmed, although a poster on the sign of the windows states that it is “opening soon”.