A new Nisa Local store has opened in Southend-on-Sea railway station following a three-week refurbishment of a previously-derelict unit.

Retailer Mitul Patel transformed the 1,200sq ft unit under Nisa’s Evolution format specification and opened the store at the beginning of June.

The Station Convenience Store focuses on food to go and chilled food to cater for both rail passengers and local residents using it as their local convenience store.

Mitul said: “People have been coming in and saying ‘Wow! This is the store!’. We get a real mix of people in here including commuters and people who live and work nearby and everyone has been delighted.”

Nisa’s head of format and development Darren May said: “This renovation shows just how versatile Nisa is in terms of getting the right fit for whatever the location.

“The nature of the consumers in this store is obviously quite transient and it gives us a great opportunity to showcase what Nisa has to offer to a really wide audience.

“Whether it is a symbol store with a Nisa fascia or an independent store with the retailer’s own fascia, we have the flexibility to make it work for the retailer.”