A NEW-BUILD village store is set to open in Micheldever in late August.

Micheldever will have a local village shop again, after the last one closed more than 10 years ago.

Trinity Rose sold the vacant property on its first viewing in February 2021. Now, the former village store is set to re-open and fulfil its purpose as a local convenience store.

One of the new shop owners, Rajeev Sangroula, already owns Nirmala Foods in City Road in Winchester, a Nepalese grocery store that opened in 2019.

Rajeev will manage the business alongside fellow shareholder Shuvham Bhandari, a fire department worker from Alresford. Shuvham's mother Sabina Chhetri will be running the shop on his behalf.

The new shop owners see the new venture as a business investment that will help serve the community.

Hampshire Chronicle: Micheldever village shop in Church Street

Rajeev said: “I’ve been to the shop a couple of times and people are very happy. They keep asking if I’m the new shop owner. Everybody wants a small convenience store quite nearby, so I think they’re very happy and excited. I’m excited as well.

“We’re 90 per cent sure it’s going to be called Micheldever Village Store but definitely something that includes Micheldever.

“If I can run the shop, then in the long term it will be cost effective for me and my family.”

Rajeev is currently sending out flyers to the local community to introduce himself and ask the community what they’d like to see in their local store.

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The shop owner expects to open in late August, to allow time to design and fill the empty space.

Trinity Rose associate director, Jon Baud sold the property in Church Street.

He said: “Village shops are closing down everywhere, mainly due to people shopping in larger supermarkets, so it’s very refreshing to see a business opening in such a location and serving the local area, particular as Micheldever is some distance from the nearest convenience store.

“After a very protracted legal process, we finally got this one over the line. We sincerely wish the new owners all the best in their new venture, and I am sure they will receive incredible support from the local community here in Micheldever, which to date has been exceptional.”

Micheldever’s last village shop closed in May 2010.

Chair of Micheldever's parish services, Olive Bramley said: "We are all very excited about the prospect of a village shop, but this has been a long and drawn-out process, so fingers crossed it will actually happen this time."

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