The Menai Centre, which has been constructed by Watkin Jones, will house a new Debenhams store, along with Superdrug, the Body Shop and River Island and many more.

And, with the majority of its 21 retail units taken, the future looks bright not only for the centre, but for the city itself.

Head of the Bangor Business Forum and Bangor city councillor, Doug Madge said: "I am delighted that the centre is opening and am very pleased for the people of Bangor and the area.

"Debenhams have invested and shown their confidence in Bangor, and in turn, we need to support them."

Forum secretary and Gwynedd county councillor June Marshall added: "I welcome the opening of the Menai Centre, it is a very exciting development for Bangor and will provide an interesting array of new shops and opportunities, for both residents and visitors alike."

However the forum have also expressed concern at the possibility of the centre facing competition from developments on Anglesey.

Cllr Madge added: "If these designer centres are opened on Anglesey, they will kill the High Street here, and all the work that has been done on the Deiniol and Menai Centres, as well as other projects such as new Christmas lights, will go to waste."

Meanwhile, Cllr Marshall has called for car parking prices to be reduced, in order to make the city more attractive to shoppers from outside the area.

"It is really important that Bangor is made more user friendly, in order to help trade in the city," she said.

At the heart of the Menai Centre is the new Debenhams store, which will open on April 1.

Carrie Rogers, manager, said: "We are all very, very excited and emotional; the old store (on Bangor High Street) closes on March 29 and some of the staff have been there for 30 years.

"At the opening, there will be a goody bag for the first 100 people through the door, and, as it is on a Tuesday, at the weekend we will have a lot more attractions, such as prizes, facepainting and a jazz band."