Supermarket chain announces shock closure of beloved branch after 50 years
A supermarket branch that has served as a pillar of the local community for 50 years will soon close its doors permanently.
Co-op, one of the biggest supermarket chains in the UK, revealed that a store in Nottingham, England, would be axed within weeks.
The local Co-op store in Meadows, Nottingham, will close its doors in November after being a mainstay in the Bridgeway Shopping Centre for as long as some residents can remember.
It is a shock to locals who frequent the small convenience store, which boasts a prime location in the town centre.
A spokesperson for Co-op confirmed the closure, saying: “Co-op regularly reviews its stores. In addition to opening new stores, we sometimes, and only after careful consideration, have to take the difficult decision to close a store.”
However, the closure is not unusual as it relates to the lease on the Bridgeway Centre unit, which is ending.
A Co-op spokesperson added: “Colleagues who have been informed are being fully supported, and every effort is being made to offer alternative positions in the area. We would like to thank the community for its support of this store.”
It’s not softened the news for some locals, including 85-year-old David Cooksy, who said he was “disappointed” to hear of the Nottingham store closure.
He highlighted to the BBC: “It’s convenient. It’s a convenience store, that’s what it’s called and now it’s not going to be here”, adding that it had been a mainstay of the town centre since the 50s.
Following the store closure in The Meadows, the nearest Co-op locations for customers will be the stores on Station Street and Trent Bridge in Nottingham and Trent Boulevard in West Bridgford.
As local Laney Neilson, 24, outlined, it could force many elderly residents who rely on the shop to travel further afield for their everyday essentials.
She revealed that her grandparents, who are in their 60s, relied on the branch for their regular household shopping.
“Because the winter payments for some pensioners has stopped, they can’t afford their mobility scooter any more so this is the only shop in walking distance to them”, said Laney.
While the reason for closing the branch isn’t out of the ordinary, the Co-op store has faced some issues with a spate of crimes reportedly committed or attempted this year.
Incidents reportedly include an attempted robbery on January 5, 2024, and the store being closed for several hours on May 6, 2024, due to a police incident.
According to Nottinghamshire Live, there have also been issues with shoplifting at the premises.
