Shoppers can enjoy a traditional porch - with Wi-Fi

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29: Grocery store Supermart is to get a revamp to return the frontage to its former glory.

The makeover will enable shoppers to enjoy a coffee or a take-out lunch  on the store’s terrace — with free Wi-Fi.

Tredick Gorham, company president, said the frontage of the building dated back hundreds of years, but over time much of the Bermudian detail has been lost.

Secluded

“The current porch area will be turned into what will look like an old Bermuda porch, and either end will be enclosed with blinds, so it will be a secluded place but right on Front Street,” he said.

“It’s an old building, so the renovations will be in keeping with that.”

Mr Gorham unveiled plans for the store improvements after a letter in a newspaper criticized frontages on Hamilton’s streets, calling for improvements.

Mr Gorham said: “This has been in the works for a while, but it’s taken some time to get planning permission.

“We have that now and hopefully the work will be completed by the end of September or start of October.”

The building has been in the Gorham family for three generations, but was finally converted from a wholesale warehouse to a store in 1956.

Mr Gorham said: “We did a renovation four years ago and moved the door — the ramp leading up to it was temporary and we always intended to improve the frontage.

“It’s just taken a bit longer than we thought.

“The new frontage will have an old-fashioned feel and we think people will enjoy it.

“We will be putting in hanging flower baskets as well.” Designer Hartley Watlington, who specialises in recreating traditional Bermudian architectural details, will also remove a breeze block balustrade on the upper floor and replace it with railings.

Mr Gorham said: “Places that preserve their heritage stand out and that’s what we want to do. It also ties in very well with our salad bar and food service.

“We serve breakfast starting from 7am as well as lunch and dinner, and this will give people a nice place to sit, which a lot of places don’t have.

“It’s a good variety and this will provide that extra service to our customers at what I like to think is a reasonable price.

“It will also be more attractive to tourists because when they buy food there’s nowhere for them to eat it, whereas regular customers can go back to their offices.”