It's finally open!

[fatouche]

Yes folks, the Şah Marketplace in Catalkoy finally opened today. Do come and have a look around; I think you'll like it !

[butterfly]

What are the opening hours please, just wondering as I work 9am-6pm! Would love to get down before work!

[niceone]

wow did not go out today and missed the opening, will be going tomorrow if it's open

Thanks for letting us know

[fatouche]

I'm not sure about the opening time tomorrow, but it will be open. It will open its doors from around 7.30am when it's up and running properly, and it will be open until 9 or 10pm as far as I know. This was the 'soft opening' to get a chance to test the water and have time to iron out any problems.

[butterfly]

Thank you!!! Will pop in early tomorrow

[guru]

what and where is this?

[Barbieb]

It is the old Pepsi Cola factory Catalkoy Guru, cannot miss it on the main road from Girne to Esentepee.

[Owl Lady]

Good luck to everyone working there. Especially Fatma and Chris

[vonnie]

What type of market is it ? Food, clothes ??? Can someone give me an idea of what they are selling please .thank you

[guru]

It is the old Pepsi Cola factory Catalkoy Guru, cannot miss it on the main road from Girne to Esentepee.

Thank you.

[cjtill]

Went yesterday and it is very impressive and I thought for a moment I was in Waitrose. Didn't have much time to have a good look around but will go again on Monday.
Actually found a yam in there which is a favourite and haven't seen for years so that was a lovely treat. Definitely worth a visit.

[ifonly]

Went Saturday - fresh rasberries !!!! - fresh yam !!!! - fresh cranberries !!! great butchery (Kibet) - lovely hot food counter and a help yourself salad bar. Nicely laid out and very bright and airey. Nice cafe/meeting place.
I didn't particularly notice any difference in prices compared to the others in the area but Good luck to Sah and happy shopping.

[kiplet]

Can someone direct me from the Acapulco please ?

[Keithcaley]

Head towards Girne (i.e. keep the sea on your Right, and the mountains on your Left ) - it will be on your right hand side, next to the sign for Diana Beach.

[kiplet]

Much appreciated Keithcaley

[Fesenjan123]

Very impressed. Nicely laid out, bright and airy. Great choice of stock including clotted cream:) Prices on a par with the other supermarkets, some things dearer, others cheaper.
I dont think the cafe was open when I went today but will look forward to trying it next time.
Good choice of wine, cheese, and meat.
Good luck Şah, you deserve to do well as quite clearly a lot of thought and research has gone into this venture.

[jen]

Just been a ride over, very impressed, the hot food counter and salad bar alone make it worth the trip from Lapta. Everywhere is spacious, bright and well thought out, prices comparable to most super markets but with a much more eclectic mix of products, fish counter and deli / cheese counters particularly good with a varied choice and of course the cakes and baked goods , with the lovely Fatma's input, look delicious .
And really have to mention the trolleys, soft glide plastic that move silently in the direction you push them

[PoshinDevon]

Popped in this morning to Sah Marketplace. Have to say the Supreme supermarket at Catalkoy has always been our favourite.

The Sah is very impressive from the carpark area, trolley park and entrance, it has an upmarket feel about it. The layout, selection and quality was very good. In particular the cheeses, wines, deli and takeaway counters. There is an area to purchase food, salads etc and then take to the cafe zone either inside or out.

Of course the place has just opened and everywhere looked pristine, hopefully in a few months it will still look the same. It is a very positive addition and as some have said has been well thought out - sort of reminds you of M&S Food or Waitrose.

Prices seemed on par with other supermarkets, but as you would expect the vast wine selection had some impressive bottles, the cheeses were different and other items not eaily found in N Cyprus....were naturally more expensive. The quality was great.

We are lucky we have such a good choice close by.

[sophie]

I will make regular trips from Alsancak provided (a) they supply paper bags instead of the plastic (b) supply long lasting bags that you can buy at the check out and use time after time (c) add to the cost of your purchases if you insist on having plastic bags and last but not least (d) put into place a total recycling scheme for plastic containers, metal containers and paper. The Directors have stated they want people to feel they are having a "Waitrose" experience, if that is the case, then they should go the whole hog and lead the way. If they do, then other Supermarkets will probably follow. Sounds great and hope they really make a move towards cutting down on the use of plastic in the TRNC.

[PoshinDevon]

I to would like to see less plastic in use and hopefully Sah Marketplace will do its bit and lead the way.

However; unfortunately I think it will be a long, slow process. The problem is not confined to the TRNC, its a problem across many countries in the meditteranean area.

But back to the Sah Marketplace, we also to liked the trolleys, they certainly went the way they were being pushed! It will we have no doubt make an impact and will draw people in due to the selection and variety of products on offer. The wine selection was certainly different with some good quality wines available plus some more expensive varieties for that special occasion. Tried some of the cheeses on sale and again they were very good.....and as for the olive selection and deli, well they certainly impressed.

It may make others raise there game, but we feel that some may also feel the pinch. Supreme just down the road should be able to compete but we are concerned for the Catalkoy Lemar. Hope there is space for all as competition is good for the consumer.

[butterfly]

Even if they put the recycling bins in, it will still be dumped at the tip. Not really set up here for recycling.... Yet!!!

[bluedream]

Would live to see more English food, not just frozen Iceland products. Something that is all ready prepared and you can just bung in the oven...

[turkey]

very good I will shop there again

[Deniz1]

why more English food? there is quite a choice already .Still I dont eat much of it I like my turkish best thats why i live here.As for reusable bags take your own like the free ones from China Bazaar.

[lilnrob]

Agree with Deniz1 on that one

[countrybumpkin]

I thought that the quality and variety of goods on offer was really good. Why not take your own bags? Do you really want 'ready meals'? Surely living here with all the fresh food available cooking is easy and a pleasure. Do we really want to turn into Tesco 'ping'and it's ready diners? I don't think so.

[niceone]

I make my own ready meals ! If you are cooking cottage pie, spag bol, chilli con carne etc cook double portions and freeze, then if you have a busy day or don't feel like cooking voila

[kiplet]

Please pleaśe let them sell a variety of freshly washed packet salad.

[helendj]

Visited Sah yesterday and was very very impressed! Beautifully clean, wide aisles and a comprehensive selection. Intended to buy just a few items and ended up filling my basket, there was so much choice. Bought some large prawns which were absolutely delicious, they actually tasted like prawns for a change - will definitely shop there all the time. Appreciated the help with packing at the till. Only tiny 'criticism' was that the hot food section should have a queue instead of staff having to deal with random people standing in front of them willy nilly. But having said that I think Sah will give all the other supermarkets a run for their money, good luck to them

[sophie]

kiplet, please tell us that was meant tongue in cheek. Check it out on the web, just how dangerous they can be re bacteria breeding in those plastic pouches. Fresh salad all the time for me.

[tomsteel]

sophie, where in the TRNC is there a recycling facility? Şah could rigidly recycle at the point of contact, but it would then go into a land fill somewhere when collected by the local belediye for the area. I guess, therefore, you will not be making any trips from that very clean area of Alsancak.

[sophie]

tomsteel,, of course we will be making the trip, recycling is a dream of mine and someone has to make a start sometime - paper bags would help wouldn't it?

[tomsteel]

Self-destructing paper bags would certainly help. However, even that would end up in a land-fill dump among all the other detritus collected from households. Recycling is certainly a dream worth having and wishing for. Realistically in the TRNC - not a chance. Whatever, please enjoy the journeys and experience.

[PoshinDevon]

So as not to get away from the thread topic, which is about the opening of the Sah Marketplace, I have started a thread about recycling. Perphaps if anyone would like to discuss this important topic they could post about recycling on this new thread and leave this one purely for peoples thoughts on this newly opened shopping experience.

Yes supermarkets have a responsibility with regards to recycling but so have lots of other organisations as well as us individuals.

It would save this thread drifting off topic.

[Mollie the cat]

Our first time in there, very nice indeed! Reasonably priced, friendly staff, their carrot cake at 5tl a slice was yummy!!

Well laid out, good service at the till, indeed competition for the other supermarkets, will certainly be going back

[sparky71]

We went to Sah today and were very impressed with the whole setup, lots of choice and as someone previously commented something's are cheaper/dearer than other shops.
Don't think we would shop there every week but maybe on a monthly basis and they do sell the heavy duty green bags, we bought one today(3TL)