A FORMER Somerfield supermarket in Broadwalk shopping centre in Knowle could be split in two, with one half converted into a new discount store.
The Post understands that Co-op, which owns Somerfield and the lease on the unit, is in negotiations with B&M, a Liverpool-based retail chain.
The former supermarket is the only empty unit in the shopping centre, and the move would be a major boost to the precinct.
Broadwalk's Somerfield shop shut its doors in the final week of February, leading to fears that shoppers would desert the centre in droves.
But despite a slight drop in the centre's footfall, shoppers in Knowle are spending more money at Broadwalk and the majority of businesses are said to be meeting their targets.
Business owners and Tim Moloney, the centre's manager, are positive about its future. Mr Moloney said: "I feel very positive about things and trade at the moment is very good. Footfall has dropped, which is understandable as we have lost Somerfield, but the actual spend is fine.
"The majority of traders are experiencing an increased turnover year-on-year and are on target for their monthly income.
"Footfall at the moment is about 45,000 people a week, which is down about 2,000 from this time last year. But what people are spending is good, which may be because the other tenants are picking up the pieces after losing Somerfield.
"I know that Co-op is currently talking to a national operator which is expected to move in, which would be very positive for the shopping centre.
"Hopefully it will be a welcome addition and will complement the current range of shops we have."
Other major shops in the centre are also confident about the future. Ladies fashion shop Bonmarché was due to close when the company went into administration earlier this year.
But it has since had a 12-month reprieve, and despite seeing a slight fall in the number of customers buying clothes, staff say it is still thriving Assistant manager Janice Freke puts that down to the loyalty of its customers and increasing the number of sales it has.
She said: "We have always done well and things will pick up again. A lot of our customers are elderly and some of them disappeared when the bingo went a few years ago.
"But we got them back, and we will again because we have very loyal customers."
Butcher Will Appleby runs MW Fresh Foods and is taking over Boswells, a coffee shop in the shopping centre. He said he hadn't noticed a knock-on in footfall or takings since Somerfield shut.
He said: "When Somerfield closed it felt like a big black cloud was suddenly hanging over the precinct and people assumed everything was closing. But it hasn't been like that.
"It is still thriving here, and there are plenty of people milling around. I think the people of Knowle are very lucky, to be honest. There aren't that many areas in Bristol where you can find such a variety of shops."
A spokesman for Co-op said: "We are actively looking to split the unit that was formerly Somerfield into two units and find tenants for these retail units."
No one from B&M was available to comment.
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