It’s been revealed that Booths will close its long-standing Media City UK branch later this year due to a lack of footfall following a rise in home-working in the wake of COVID-19. The popular Northern chain store, which opened back in 2011, was a welcome stop for many who worked at creative businesses based in the area, and was regularly visited by students of University of Salford. However the space has unfortunately become one of the latest casualties of the ongoing pandemic, with sales plummeting and the future of its 62-strong workforce put at risk. While the company aims to try and protect these roles in some capacity moving forward, there’s no clear solution at the the time of writing.
However as one Media City UK door closes, another opens as the popular General Stores chain gets closer to opening is largest venue to date at the Salford media hub. Originally based in Ancoats, this popular supplier of food, drink, locally sourced alcohol and coffee and – you guessed it, general home supplies – branched out to a second venue in Salford before popping up at Stretford’s recently refurbished food hall last year. The company’s new venture at Media City UK promises to be their most ambitious to date – and if their Instagram posts are to be believed – they’re not done quite yet, with two new stores heading our way in the near future. Watch this space.
Images – @GeneralStores_.
www.general-stores.co.uk
- Words:
- Simon Bland
- Published on:
- Mon 11 Jan 2021