A NEW Asian fashion bazaar has opened in Blackburn with hundreds of customers queuing round the block for the first chance to shop at 45 stalls.

Bradford businessman Abrar Khan has invested more than £50,000 in fitting out the property in King Street to provide small businesses with an ‘emporium’ to start trading.

The former car showroom, briefly been a retail outlet, had stood empty for several years before he took it over.

Mr Khan was surprised to see people queuing outside his new Suraj Plaza bazaar and had to order more of the Asian snacks promised free to his opening day customers.

The new venture was opened by mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Cllr Colin Rigby and is part of the borough council’s plans to regenerate that area of town.

The opening follows national chain Home Bargains putting in a planning application for one of the business plots nearby opened up by the Wainwright Way Freckleton Street link road.

Mr Khan runs two clothing and textile retail hubs in Bradford and the similar Nelson Bazaar in Pendle.

He said: “I was surprised how many customers turned up for the opening.

“We must had 400 to 500 people turn up. I didn’t expect them queuing outside.

“A lot of people who shop at our Nelson Bazaar come from Blackburn so we decided to bring the business to our customers.

“I saw these premises decided they were ideal.

“We have got 45 small businesses taking stalls and hopefully some will go on to open their own shops.

“They sell Asian and Western clothes, fabrics, cloth, perfumes and house scents.

“We hope it will be seedbed for small businesses to start and move on making space for other entrepreneurs later.

“We are happy to be part of reviving this area of Blackburn and see it as a real opportunity.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “Suraj Plaza will be a major addition to Blackburn, a real fashion and textile emporium.

“With Home Bargains planning application nearby it shows our efforts to regenerate this part of town are having an impact.”

Cllr Rigby said: “I did not expect to find a queue of people waiting outside when I arrived.

“It was very busy and Mr Khan clearly knows what he is doing.”