Manchester city’s Church Street Market will close for the final time tomorrow – to make way for a new development of flats.
And many of those who use the outdoor market, located on High Street between the Northern Quarter and the Arndale, say they will be sad to see it go when it shuts its doors on September 14.
The market consists of McCall’s fruit and veg stall, McCall’s Organics, Afro Caribbean Asian and Manchester BookBuyers – the last of which has been trading there for 54 years.
Developers are planning to demolish the market as part of a plan to build more than 350 new apartments.
Olivia Barber, a loyal customer of McCall’s Organics said: “I’m gutted.
“It’s a great shop – it’s really reasonably priced and you feel better supporting a local business.
“There is so much funky stuff that I don’t know where I’ll be able to get it from.”
Another customer, Ray Arlar, 85, said he visits the markets three or four times a week.
The owner of Manchester BookBuyers, known as Eddie the Book, said: “They bring something different to the community.
“It’s an example of how things are changing. It should be better preserved.”
As well as demolishing the market, High Street units 20-22 and 24-36 are also to make way for a new development of 361 apartments – which will include space on the ground floor for businesses.
Eddie added: “There’s nothing we can do – we’ve just got to accept it.”
Feature image shows Ray Arlar and Eddie the Book. Picture: Ellie Hammonds
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