Peterborough-based retailer Neil Godhania has expanded his retail footprint with the opening of a new convenience store in a seaside village in West Norfolk, alongside his brother Hemal Godhania.
The new store, launched under the Nisa fascia, marks the transformation of a previously derelict site into a modern community-focused retail space, bringing fresh momentum to the local area.
Positioned as more than just a convenience outlet, Nisa Heacham store offers an extensive range of fresh and frozen foods, a wide selection of confectionery, alcohol, and both hot and cold beverage machines, alongside an in-store bakery.
A key feature of the store is its dedicated community corner seating area, designed to encourage shoppers to spend more time in-store. The space caters to customers looking to relax with a coffee or sandwich, meet friends, or participate in local initiatives such as the monthly “Coffee with a Cop” sessions.
The store is already gaining traction within the village for its strong local sourcing strategy. Products include bread from Krusty Loaf, cakes from Doughty Cakes, eggs from Glovers Farm, and premium meats supplied by Elsegood Family Butchers and Broadland Hams.
Reflecting on the journey, Neil Godhania shared on social media that the project began when his brother sent him a listing for the site in December 2024.
“Boarded up. Redundant. Full of old refrigeration, like someone had just walked out overnight,” he said, adding that they nearly decided against viewing the property due to busy schedules.
However, a visit to the site sparked immediate ideas.
“We walked around the site with the agent, took it all in and as soon as we got back in the car, the ideas started flowing — what would work, what wouldn’t, layout, range, brands, positioning. But more importantly, the potential.”
Despite the scale of redevelopment required, the brothers were driven by a clear vision.
“A lot of people would’ve been put off by the scale of work required. Structurally and aesthetically, it needed everything. But we had a vision — to create a proper community store,” he said.
The project was not without its challenges, but early performance has exceeded expectations.
“It’s not been easy. There have been plenty of challenges and setbacks along the way. But standing here now, we’re proud of what we’ve created. The response from the local community and customers in the first few weeks has been incredible and it’s already exceeded our expectations," he wrote.
The store employs 14 staff and operates daily from 7am to 10pm. Following a soft launch, it officially opened on March 28, with local councillor Terry Parish attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony.