Reading oriental store to reopen over a year after horror fire

By: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter

A supermarket is set to reopen more than a year after a horror fire in Reading town centre that also left surrounding businesses closed for weeks.

The C Mart in Friar Street had been a long-standing fixture in the town centre since 2013 selling packed, fresh, and frozen oriental food products.

But in its 10th year of operating, a large fire ripped through the store on May 26, 2023, completely destroying the building and leaving many nearby units also unable to return for weeks.

Now the C Mart business owners are finally getting ready to reopen the town centre store, albeit at a new location just down the road at the former EyeSite Opticians. EyeSite relocated to Broad Street in May this year.

Brian Xhao, the owner of the business, said it would be unlikely that C Mart ever reopens in its original location. He explained that long delays for a deal at an originally intended new store have meant that he’s decided to move into the former opticians at 142-143 Friar Street.

“When I spoke to the marketers Hicks Baker I said I need something ASAP. I was told this one is available so I took it. I just can’t keep waiting around too much longer,” Xhao said.

The owner said he is aware that the unit they will be reopening in forms part of plans to be demolished – alongside Revolución de Cuba  – to make way for a 163-bed Leonardo Hotel. The planned hotel is part of the Queen Victoria Street redevelopment by Thackeray Estates.

Xhao said: “That’s why I’ve got a limited contract for this place at the moment. It’s like I have no other option, it depends what other units become available.”

The fire that destroyed C Mart last year led neighbouring Union Street, known locally as Smelly Alley, to be closed off from Friar Street for almost three months, reopening last August.

C Mart bore the brunt of the damage, with the store being sealed off ever since. Scaffolding for remedial works has remained indefinitely and an investigation by the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service determined that the fire was not suspicious.

In a boon for C Mart, the former EyeSite unit is larger than the shop they previously had.

Asked whether it is a nuisance to keep on moving, Xhao answered: “I know it is a bit of a headache for me, but I can’t just wait without doing anything.

“At least I can make something, rather than just staying at home and doing nothing, because that’s wasting time.”

In preparation for opening, the trading name of his company Krinfio Co has applied to sell alcohol from 9am to 11pm each day. Xhao explained the licence will allow them to sell Chinese and Japanese wine and spirits.

(Local Democracy Reporting Service)