Downtown Superstore (Department Stores)

...of you have heard of Downtown Superstore. I know for a fact that people travel far and wide to visit it, usually on a Bank Holiday. Having worked in a Little Chef for 5 years, I can confirm that many many people used to ask exactly where it was, mistaking our Little Chef for the one 10 miles further North on the A1, just past Grantham on the Gonnerby Moor roundabout. The Superstore itself is huge and cannot be missed. It is accessable from the A1 ...
...Grantham on the map and Downtown is found about 4 miles North along the A1 at the Gonnerby Moor roundabout. It is in a very central location and does not require detailed instructions on how to get there.
The Store itself covers an impressive 26 acres, and includes Downtown Superstore and Garden Centre, and Boundary Mills.

Downtown Superstore.
The store itself , which claims to sell everything for you and your home, is ... more

I wonder how many of you have heard of Downtown Superstore. I know for a fact that people travel far and wide to visit it, usually on a Bank Holiday. Having worked in a Little Chef for 5 years, I can confirm that many many people used to ask exactly where it was, mistaking our Little Chef for the one 10 miles further North on the A1, just past Grantham on the Gonnerby Moor roundabout. The Superstore itself is huge and cannot be missed. It is accessable from the A1 and also from the road off the roundabout, sign posted to Belton and Grantham, and has 3 clearly labled entrances in total. Access to the carparks can also be gained through the Granada services which are next to it. The store is very easy to find – just look up Grantham on the map and Downtown is found about 4 miles North along the A1 at the Gonnerby Moor roundabout. It is in a very central location and does not require detailed instructions on how to get there.
The Store itself covers an impressive 26 acres, and includes Downtown Superstore and Garden Centre, and Boundary Mills.

Downtown Superstore.
The store itself , which claims to sell everything for you and your home, is a huge warehouse, which is split into 2 floors, joined by stairs, lifts and escalators.
Downstairs houses bedroom and dining room furniture, beds, electrical goods – including t.v’s, hi-fi’s, cookers - vacuum cleaners, Carpets and rugs and Upholstery. Each type of product is put into clearly defined sections and a store map is available to guide you to exactly what you require.

The first floor sells men’s, ladies and children’s fashion, fashion accessories – cosmetics, toiletries, jewelry, etc…, home furnishings – wallpaper, paint, linen, lighting, etc…, sports goods, luggage, toys, kitchen ware, gifts – cards, wrapping paper and accessories, glass and china, books, etc…
There is also a coffee shop on this floor , which looks very inviting (although I’ve never used it) and toilets can be found on this floor too, including baby facilities. Again, the store guide clearly defines where products can be found.

The store is well laid out and is spaceous and light. The eiles are wide and the shelves not too high or long. The childrens section is exciting and well furnished and has life size furry jungle animals that nod their heads and lift their feet!! Staff are very helpful, although usually remain behind the tills, so you have to go to them if you need to ask them something. The store offers delivery of goods, but I have never used this and am not sure about the terms of delivery. There is only one entrance to the store, although Boundary Mills, which can be accessed through Downtown Superstore, has it’s own entrance. There are fire exits to meet with standards, so quick exits can be made if necessary. It may be beneficial to have just one exit/entrance anyway, because the car parks are not labelled in any way and it would be easy to lose you car unless you retrace your footsteps into the store! Visit the web site for more info. (address below).

Downtown Garden Centre
The garden centre is the biggest garden superstore in the UK and sells everything you would expect, and more. Again, it is split into a downstairs and upstairs, and has two outside sections aswell.

The large outside section sells all types of plants, and landscape materials, including trees, bushes, shrubs, seasonal plants, fencing, rockery materials, rocks and stone, containers and building materials. It also houses Alan Mason’s garden improvement service and info. Centre. There is also a farm shop outside, which sells a large range of farm produce and frozen foods. I particularly like their ready made frozen croissants, danish pastries and pan au chocolate, to name but a few. I was very impressed by the variety of frozen fruit - some already mixed - perfect for fruit salads, desserts and cakes. These range from strawberrys and rasberrys to pineapple, blueberrys to apricots and many more. They are sold by weight and you just help yourself to as much as you want. The same applys for ready prepared vegetables, also sold seperatly or mixed. I've never come accross this concept before and think it's wonderful. They sell a fwe other products, such as hand baked cakes and snacks, and locally produced goods. There is direct accesss to the car parks from this outside section.

The smaller outside section houses water features, ponds and aquatics and has a large lagoon which is always popular with children. There are usually somme ducks swimming around, but I don't think there are any fish in the lagoon. There are plenty in tanks waiting to be sold though!

The ground floor has just one entrance (excluding the entrance via the farmshop). It sells garden sundries – chemicals, tools, seeds, machinery, lawn car, etc…, garden ideas – cards, books, candles, ceramics, décor accessories, gifts, floristry, etc…, house plants and pets and aquatics – tanks, filters heaters, food, tropical and fresh water fish, weed, tank accessories, pet bedding and food, grooming accessories, etc…

The first floor can be accessed by lift, stairs or escalator. It sells garden furniture and leisure goods, such as toys, garden clothing, barbeques, etc… The only toilets on site can be found upstairs, along with a coffee shop.

Boundary Mills
This store is under the same roof as Downtown Superstore and takes up a fraction of the ground floor space. It sells menswear and ladies wear, lingerie, leisure wear, handbags, hats, shoes and luggage. Most of the clothes found are label goods, and are up to as much as half the normal RRP. The types of clothes sold would suit the elder generation, but there is access to Downtown’s clothing section, which is pretty universal.
The toilets for the downstairs floor of the warehouse are located in Boundary Mills.

A word of warning – this place can get very very busy. I have been known to turn away before after queuing along the A1 because the car parks are full. This usually happens on Bank holidays, but weekends can be busy too. As I said before, the car parks are not labelled, and there are many of them, so you have to have a good memory to make sure you don’t lose your car. This has never happened to me before, but I do know the store very well. The distance between the Superstore and Garden Centre is walkable, and is joined by a brick walkway. The car park between the two stores usually becomes full very quickly as it is the most convenient place to park, and is closest to both stores. The other car parks are further away, and it may be harder to remember where you left your car if you park in one of these.

More Info.
Downtown Superstore opening hours; Mon.-Sat. 9.30am – 5.30am
Sun. 11am – 5pm
Bank Hol. 10am – 5pm
Call (01476) 590239 or fax (01476) 590530

Downtown Garden Centre opening hours; Mon.-Sat.& Bank hol.9.30am – 5.30pm
Sun. 10am – 4pm
Call (01476) 512333 or fax (01476) 512312

Boundary Mills opening hours; As Downtown Superstore
Call (01476) 591001

For all sites, e-mail enquiries@get-it-all.co.uk
or visit www.get-it-all.co.uk
 

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