McDONALD’S could be about to open its fast food doors in Oswestry as part of the Smithfield supermarket development.
Liberty Mercian Development spokesman, Roger Birtles, also confirmed that 50s American-Italian themed restaurant, Frankie and Bennys, is on the brink of coming to the town too, while he also admitted the developers had received one firm offer from a food retailer to operate the supermarket.
He said a third restaurant retailer was also under offer at the site, which will incorporate a cinema and non-food retail outlets as well as the revamp of the livestock market, and believes there will be two more offers from potential supermarket operators in place by the end of the month.
“In development terms this is not a particularly difficult site to develop,” Mr Birtles said.
“Deals on two food units are expected to be done by the end of the month, namely with McDonald’s and Frankie and Benny’s.
“However, the farmers’ market will be developed before the commercial sites.”
Mr Birtles underlined the fact that Liberty Mercian are fully committed to the scheme which he estimates will be completed within two years.
He also said he was unable to reveal whether one of the three potential supermarket retailers expected to make offers on the site were already operating in Oswestry, sparking rumours as to whether Morrisons or Sainsbury’s could be involved.
He added that no work took place on the site before October 27 last year over fears their permission for the project may be challenged under judicial review, but added that non-food retailers were yet to commit to the development.
“Until the identity of the food operator is revealed it is unlikely that any non-food retailers will sign up,” he admitted.