PJ’s Express

This is a neat and handy little convenience store in the heart of Sutton Coldfield.
Its convenience lies in its situation, standing where Upper Parade meets the Lower Parade, meaning all shoppers in Sutton can get here with total ease. PJ’s does everything you would expect, and with plenty of cash machines nearby, things just keep on getting more and more convenient. I’ve popped in many times for milk, bread, cigarettes and newspapers. With slightly later opening hours than the rest of Sutton, PJ’s is as versatile as can be.
The lunches here are also pretty good, with loads of sandwiches, rolls and baguettes available for hungry workers to choose from as well as different meal deals. I often grab one if I’m in Sutton at this time of day. The coffees are strong and tasty just as they should be and, more importantly, they often come without the queues associated with the bigger named, local competitors.

PJ’s… dunkin’ your doughnuts now possible thanks to this convenience store offering coffee on the go.
It’s a touch like that — admittedly not rocket science, or without countless precedent — which sets this shop apart from express versions of national supermarkets lurking nearby. Trying to get in on both the commuter breakfast rush and the lunch crowd — thanks to fresh baguettes — is another measure by which PJ’s simply punches above its seeming fags-​n-​mags weight. Can pizza slices or even a basic deli counter be that far behind?
Sweets, snacks, mobile top-​ups and booze round things off as you would expect, with even a decent stab at being a catch-​all grocery beyond the bread-​and-​milk basics. Its smart location between the business and retail halves of central Sutton does it no harm either, reminding potential customers of a thrifty alternative to twice-​the-​price take-​out coffee and sandwich vendors.