OPTICIAN giant Specsavers has opened a new £200,000 Derry store, creating nine jobs.
The multi-national retailer launched a new branch at Crescent Link retail park in the Waterside area of the city yesterday.
The major investment has been made by Specsavers directors and Derry residents, Maeve Walsh and Sean McCauley, who own the existing store located on Ferryquay Street.
The new store brings the total number employed by Specsavers in the city to 45 and is the 23rd outlet to open in Northern Ireland.
Optometry director and chair of Specsavers in Northern Ireland, Sean McCauley explained the Derry expansion has been driven by demand.
"This year marks our 25th year in Derry and we felt the time was right to expand our optical and audiology services and offer greater accessibility to local people in the Waterside area and the towns and villages beyond," he said.
"This investment is very much due to customer demand and both stores will operate as Specsavers Derry with staff working between both stores and with one online and telephone booking service for both stores."
Dispensing optician and store director, Maeve Walsh believes the new Crescent Link outlet will a "huge benefit" to the local community.
"Our Ferryquay Street store is a very busy one and our new store location will, we believe, be of huge benefit to both existing and new customers. The nine new jobs are a mix of optometrists, optical assistants, an office administrator and a lab technician," she said.
The pair also confirmed they will be investing £15,000 into their cityside premises towards new phone and computer systems, as well as laboratory and office administration areas.
