Exclusive: Sainsbury's set to open in Woolworths store
The firm is expected to complete negotiations at the end of this month on the premises at Moorland Road in Oldfield Park which would become its third store in the city.
Sainsbury's will also open a 6,200 sq ft store in Bath's £360 million SouthGate centre in November which is likely to create around 30 jobs.
The chain is looking to open a large store as part of a development on a six-acre site between St Martin's Primary School and Three Ways School in Odd Down, which would then bring the total number of stores in Bath to five.
Trader David Pye, who chairs the Moorland Road Association which represents businesses in the area, said Sainsbury's could be a positive influence by attracting more people to the street.
The store shut as Woolworths went to the wall in January.
Mr Pye, who runs a shop selling greetings cards, said: "A lot of people said if we lost Woolworths, Moorland Road would collapse and it obviously hasn't.
"There are still a lot of independent shops that still draw the crowds.
"Our trade has increased a bit and we have taken on some of the things we couldn't really compete with Woolworths on, like stationery."
Mr Pye said stores such as The Co-op, McColls and Threshers would be most affected by the opening of a store such as Sainsbury's.
He said: "It will depend on what they are actually going to sell.
"It will increase footfall in Moorland Road and any people that are going to be affected by it will be happy with the increase in people that it will draw in."
Mr Pye said he would ask Sainsbury's to join the Moorland Road Association and said the supermarket giant should not be considered a threat.
He said: "We would be looking for them to come on board and help promote the street with things such as Christmas lights and flowers."
The Co-op declined to comment.
Bristol-based property agent Alder King is marketing the store.
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