News
Church Street Markets prepare for final few days of service ahead of closure this weekend
Another deeply saddening city centre closure.
Danny Jones -
11th September 2024 
After more than a year of uncertainty, or rather seemingly preparing for the inevitable, Manchester’s long-standing Church Street Markets are finally set to shut up shop for good this weekend.
A stalwart of the local community as a whole, the Church Street stalls were some of the last remaining vestiges from Manchester’s original market scene and have sat steadily on the edge of the Northern Quarter for over half a century.
Unfortunately, however, with the city centre skyline ever-changing and new developments popping up all the time, the much-loved market stalls are set to make way for a new apartment complex, with an official closure notice being handed down this week.
For the majority of the four remaining traders – Afro Caribbean Asian, McCall’s Greengrocers, McCall’s Organics and Manchester Bookbuyers – this weekend will sadly mark their final weekend in Manchester, at least on this particular corner, anyway.
Although not all of the vendors were willing to talk ahead of the undoubtedly emotional final few days on Church Street, with many simply settling to call it “a shame”, we did speak with one of the longest-standing stall operators, Edward Hopkinson, owner of the much-loved Manchester Bookbuyers stall.
While most of the cult-favourite albeit increasingly quiet traders will be vacating the promises this Saturday, Edward explained how he will be here until at least 14 September and hopefully “another two months” at least until he sells up all of his stock.
Having been here for over 54 years, he told The Manc: “At my age, I don’t have time to buy a long-playing record”, so the chances of finding a new home at least in his case look unlikely.
Explaining that he’d be given little information beyond the building behind the market stalls being pulled down to make way for new flats, he added that Manchester City Council had been unable to find them a new location once vacating Church Street.
Speaking in an official statement, a Council spokesperson said: “Church Street has been a popular market in the heart of the Northern Quarter for some years, and we have worked with those traders in an attempt to relocate their businesses since it was first announced in 2022 that the market would eventually close after planning permission was granted for a comprehensive development by the owner of the adjacent properties to regenerate the wider site.
“Unfortunately, after extensive efforts we were unable to find an alternative market site that suited all parties, and we have since agreed a settlement with the businesses as part of the closure process. We’d like to thank the traders for their service to our city.”
Edward went on to say, simply, “What can you do? These are apartments [pointing], those are apartments, and them – as if we need any more.”
Plans to buy the plot actually began way back in 2018, with planning permission being granted in 2020 and McAleer & Rushe’s investment eventually purchasing the site alongside development firm MRP in January 2022; it’s merely been a torrid waiting game for the vendors ever since.
Writing in a recent post on social media, Caz of McCall’s Organics (who supply many local businesses like Holy Grain, Magpie Bakery and more) said: “This too shall pass. Our site is to be developed and with no suitable premises to go to, we will be closing the shutters for the final time on 14th of September…
“I’m gonna be pretty fairly busy in the lead up so if I don’t get to your messages, just know that I love ya!”
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Church Street Markets was also formerly home to Dust Dogs & Dive food stall, which took the place of the original Northern Soul location in the fifth unit that has been closed for some time now.
The Manchester foodie icons ultimately opened a new venue on nearby Tib Street back in 2019, but that expansion could have never happened without their days as one of the popular street food vendors over on Church Street.
It goes without saying that were gutted to hear of any local business closing, especially when it involves small independents like these, but Church St Markets closing is a huge loss for so many reasons – not least because of what it meant to those who have been patrons for many years and decades, even.
There has been an outpouring of love and support for the stalls following this news online and we strongly urge Mancs to pay these hard-working community assets one final visit. Thank you for everything and we wish you all the best.
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Featured Images — The Manc Group
