A sign has been put outside 22 Bury Street to say it will cease trading as a Co-operative on 11/07/2015 at 13:00.
Since the Bury Street Somerfield was re-branded as a Co-operative in October 2010, there have been two Co-ops in Abingdon Town Centre. In that time there has not been a lot of investment in the Bury Street store, and now it is to close. Staff have been told about redundancies.
Another blow for Bury Street.
Does that mean that the next phase of the redevelopment is taking place?
As I recall, when the Co-op took over the Somerfield stores part of the deal was that there would only be one Co-op in any town. The West St Helen’s branch has long been established in the town and now has the Post Office within it. I assumed that the delay in closing the Bury Street branch was due to the pending redevelopment of that part of the precinct, now seemingly abandoned.
It will be missed.
Surprises me little. The ‘fresh’ selection has been abysmal for some time. Clearly they dont sell much of it, which was bought home one day when purchasing a (single) lemon. I put it on the counter and the middle aged lady on the till asked, “what is it?”. I wasn’t sure which variety, and said I would happily pay for the more expensive one to avoid going back to the shelf. She look puzzled and asked again “what is it?”. The penny dropped, and I replied “A Lemon”. And she put it through. One does wonder….
I understood that when they took over Somerfield it had to stay as a supermarket. If that still applies, which supermarket would want to come there?
Apart for an inability to identify citrus fruit that store does offer some of the stalest “fresh” bread known to mankind. The place has limped along from the get go and it is hardly a shocker that it is now headed for the supermarket knacker’s yard. It certainly didn’t help that Co-op inherited the “village of the damned” former Somerfield staff.
I like it – shame to see it go, staff are friendly 🙂
I was told today instore by a member of staff that they had been told that the rent had been hiked up by the landlords – same old story for nearly ten years now in Bury Street.
Likewise Rafe. I have always found the staff really friendly and helpful. I have never found anything wrong with the produce I have bought from there. I am sorry to see it go.
Don’t forget that the Co-ops are different Co-ops – the West St Helen’s Street one is Midshires whereas the Bury Street one is ‘Cooperative Group’.
Nice staff, but dirty, messy store with mouldy fruit and veg. I think Aldi/Lidl will come in.
N
I hope Lidl do move there. Or hold off until big anchor store can be built??. If ever 😉