Ten brilliant new shops that opened in the Black Country in 2024

In a time when high streets seem to be getting quieter each year as new generations opt for getting their goods online, the Black Country has welcomed all sorts of new shops to the region, here is a handful of what locals have been enjoying this year.

From Jewellery shops to coffee spots, it's always reassuring for residents when brands opt to open up stores across the Black Country as it reminds us all that the region is a popular choice for new business.

And, It's great for residents and visitors alike because a new coffee shop isn't just a place to get your morning fix - although there's nothing wrong with that - but a place where young people can use to study for their future and families can use to kick off a birthday with a hearty breakfast or selection of baked goods.

But it's not just coffee shops, new additions to the high street also mean better shopping experiences for all while supermarkets help make our lives easier with our every-day needs. 

From brand new discounts stores like TJ Hughes and One Beyond, to Swarovski jewellery stores and steakhouses, the Black Country has been flush with new spots for locals to enjoy - so here's a bunch to check out on your next shopping trip. 

1) TJ HUGHES - Wolverhampton 

First up, earlier this year Wolverhampton welcomed back an old high-street friend as discount department store TJ Hughes made a comeback, opening right in the centre of the city. 

The giant store - which opened in the Mander Centre on Thursday, November 28 - had been sorely missed since it closed its doors way back in 2011, offering punters across the city a taste of everything from electrical appliances, to perfumes, clothes and candles, making it a firm favourite for bargain-hunters during shopping sprees.

2) LOCO Coffee - Wolverhampton

Opening its doors earlier this month, Loco café has brought the tastes and sounds of the Mediterranean to Wolverhampton city centre, adding to the city's already excellent variety of food options. 

It opened on Cleveland Street, next to the entrance to the Wulfrun Centre on the site of the former Bag Shop by Alan Nadir, who has owned and run the neighbouring Loco Hair Style hairdressers since 2001. 

Mr Nadir said he had bought the Bag Shop and turned it into a café as he wanted to bring the sort of coffee shop that might be found in London or Birmingham to his home city.

He said: "To be honest, the reason I opened the café was to bring something different to the city as you can go to most cities across the UK and they have nice enough shops, but I don't think they have anything like this.

"What I would like to do is bring a new atmosphere to the city and a new type of experience, with the Turkish coffee and the cakes and tea and food all being different to what you would get elsewhere and make it a unique place."

3) Swarovski - Merry Hill 

The Merry Hill shopping centre welcomed the return of the international luxury brand in May, which will surely be on the lists of many residents this year. 

The new standalone boutique opened between Goldsmiths and Beaverbrooks on the Upper Mall and features a full array of the brand’s jewellery collections, including earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings.

Founded in 1895, Swarovski has a reputation for quality and craftsmanship, specialising in designing, manufacturing, and selling crystals, Swarovski created diamonds and zirconia, jewellery.

4) Aldi - Sedgley

The store on Bilston Street opened last month, with wheelchair rugby hero Nick Cummins cutting the red ribbon alongside pupils from Queen Victoria Primary School. 

The Bilston Street store is the newest Aldi to open in Dudley and is run by a team of 40 colleagues from the local community. 

The brand has become a firm favourite for families all over the country, and now Black Country locals have another branch to visit. 

5) Toro's Steakhouse - Walsall

Established in Leicester in 2009 the brand was created by the owners who looked to fill the gap in the food market for ‘high-end’ halal steaks.

Since then, multiple Toro's Restaurants have opened in cities across the country including London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.

The new steakhouse at Unit 5 will includes 120 seats inside and a further 40 seats outside, open daily from noon to 11pm. 

The menu features a range of signature dishes such as sizzlers, burgers and steaks. The ’48-day aged’ steaks come in a range of sizes. Chef’s specials include short ribs, Café De Paris Steak and the 42oz Tomahawk steak.

6) Black Sheep Coffee - Merry Hill

Founded by university students Eirik and Gabriel - who set out to beat boring coffee and provide the world with incredible flavours - Black Sheep Coffee has opened in Merry Hill. 

After opening the first outlet in Camden in 2013, it now has over 80 spots across five countries. 

The brand is known for being the first to serve specialty-grade Robusta coffee in the UK, which has a higher caffeine content than more commonly used arabica beans – perfect for those who prefer strong and intense coffee flavour.

Black Sheep Coffee sits on the Lower Mall next to Hotel Chocolat, opposite Nike Unite. 

 7) Space Café - Wolverhampton

Since opening at the start of November, Space Cafe has been providing a new day and night time venue in Wolverhampton city centre inside the former canteen of the Express & Star building on Castle Street.

8) BoyleSports - Wolverhampton

The brand new betting shop was opened earlier this month, with special guest - and Wolves Legend - Steve Bull cutting the ribbon to officially welcome the business to the City Centre. 

The latest edition employs six people, and  employed 26 others during the contraction phase, with a spokesperson for the firm saying they could not wait for the city 'steeped in sports history' to experience its 'second-to-none' customer service. 

9) One Beyond - Dudley 

Dudley residents got their first taste of the town's newly erected One Beyond store which opened today, the discount store rivals industry twins Extra Mega Bargains and Poundland.

With the doors flung open today, July 31, high-street shoppers were finally able to step inside the new store since it's announcement earlier this year.

Perched at the same site as a former Wilko store in the town's centre - Dudley market place – it was one of the recently collapsed chain's biggest branches measuring 52,000 sq ft store.

The shop was packed today, with smiley staff waiting for customers and handing baskets to everyone that walked in looking to bag a bargain in a shop filled with over 4,000 products.

10) Harvey Norman - Merry Hill

The giant store is an international lifestyle, technology and home appliance brand which has brought life back to a once-vacant part of the Merry Hill Centre. 

The new flagship Harvey Norman store opened on Friday at the centre in Brierley Hill, filling the space left empty after Debenhams closed its store down in May 2021.