A local favourite that has been at the heart of an entire town centre’s regeneration, Stretford Foodhall, has today announced a shock closure. Stretford Foodhall has been home to food traders such as Waffle Kart, Egg & Co, Rack and What’s Your Beef, to name a few, however the venue will be closing its doors on February 11.
Part retailer and part food hall, Stretford Foodhall is part of the Store Group, which also operates Ancoats General Store, Stretford Food Hall, and Deansgate Square General Store. The news comes almost a year after Sale Foodhall closed its doors and follows a number of closures happening in and around Manchester.
Housing a host of independent businesses where customers could browse local produce and products alongside your usual essentials, Stretford Foodhall within Stretford Mall also boasted a dining space with an ever-rotating selection of local traders taking up residence in the kitchens. However, founder Mital Morar said the spot had had problems since their opening back in 2019, as they were too busy and “didn’t have enough seats and had to evolve very quickly”.
Morar also went on to say that Stretford Foodhall hadn’t “ever really recovered” since the Covid pandemic. In an open letter on Foodhall’s Instagram page, Morar said “entering inflation, cost of living crisis and this crazy enduring energy situation… we have no more left in the tank.”
Announcing the news on Instagram, Foodhalls shared an open letter regarding the Stretford Foodhall closure, saying: “It comes with great sadness and torment that we have decided to close on Sunday 11th February 2024…
“…We are very conscious of our strengths and weaknesses. We are very conscious of the current environment and we have tried our best with all the headwinds to make a go of it and keep going for the greater good… Sadly, our part in this journey cannot continue.”
Mital Morar stated: “We are acutely aware, on this journey of survival, we have let some people down. We apologise unreservedly for this and hope to make right one day. As you know, our roots are embedded in retail. We will continue on this journey and navigate this tough environment there.”
The founder of Stretford Foodhall praised its “individual and amazing” staff, and thanked all the many food traders, pop ups, breweries, and artists who have been part of the journey over the last five years.
The statement concluded saying: “As a Manchester born and bred business, local and independent, our confidence and Ikigai (as Masako once taught us) has been knocked. It has been a tortuous few years. But we get up and fight daily. Whilst we are closing, we haven’t given up. We look forward to serving you again one day… for now see us at @generalstores_.”