Sudbury’s new Waterstones bookshop opens for business at site of former M&Co store

A high street bookshop chain says it is excited to make its mark with the Sudbury community, as it opens for business today.

Waterstones is welcoming customers to its new outlet in North Street this morning, having moved into the former site of M&Co, which shut earlier this year after the clothing retailer went into administration.

Open between 9am and 5.30pm from Mondays to Saturdays, plus 10am to 4.30pm on Sundays, the branch stocks a full range of fiction and non-fiction titles for all ages.

The outlet also has a section for children and families, in addition to gifts, games, puzzles, stationery and cards.

Grace Barrett, bookshop manager at Waterstones in Sudbury, explained that the business has been searching for new sites in Suffolk, and had identified the Sudbury site as an ideal location.

She explained that, despite shifting consumer habits towards online shopping in recent years, she believed the personal touch was the reason why retail outlets like Waterstones still have a strong future.

“Sudbury, as a market town that’s between Bury St Edmunds and Colchester, seemed like a great place to open a shop,” Grace told SuffolkNews.

“Being a physical bookshop, you get the personalised service, because you can come in and chat to us.

“We’re all book lovers and we’re ready to make recommendations, which you don’t necessarily get online. We get to know people, ask questions and always have an idea for them.

“Anywhere I visit in the UK, I always go into the local bookshop, so I think there’s definitely still a place for us on the high street.

“My new team of booksellers can’t wait to share all the wonderful new publishing with our local community.

“There is nothing quite like visiting a bookshop and discovering your next favourite read,” she added.