A BARGAIN-hunters department store opened in Lewisham today with the promise of new jobs.

The discount store Family Bargains – part of the 99p Stores Group chain – can be found at a former carpet shop site in Lewisham Retail Park.

The £350,000 development is set to create around 35 new jobs according to bosses, who say they will work closely with Jobcentre Plus to fill the positions.

There will be more than 5,000 value products from furniture and lifestyle to food and drink goods.

Manager of the 99p Stores Group Hussein Lalani says the public are moving away from large supermarkets to find better deals.

Mr Lalani said: “Our customers are telling us they are fed up of having been ‘ripped off’ for years and years paying three times the price for essentials.

“Very many tell us it has now become ‘cool’ to shop at our stores.
“The boast used to be how much you paid. Now it’s how little.”