The market stalls along Church Street have been a familiar sight to Mancunians passing through the Northern Quarter for many years. However, the city’s last remaining stalls are to close this weekend.
Situated between the trendy Northern Quarter and the Arndale shopping centre, the markets have offered an alternative experience for shoppers for decades.
Now, there are just three market stalls are left still on the plot at the bottom of a tall, concrete tower – McCall’s Fruit and Veg, McCall’s Organics and Manchester Bookbuyers, all much-loved parts of the city centre community.
However, the independent businesses will close for good on Saturday 14 September as developers take over the Church Street plot.
Eddie Hopkinson from Manchester Bookbuyers, who’s been trading for over 50 years, told Manchester’s Finest: “The thing is, the council couldn’t find us any similar accommodation nearby so that’s what has brought it along, and this building is being pulled down and they can’t pull that building down without this site here.
“I’ve been here for 54 years. I’m not sad really, it is what it is. It can’t go on forever. People from all over the world buy books off me, my books have gone all over the world.”
Walking past the stalls, you’ll see a colourful array of fruit and vegetables at McCall’s grocers, who have been trading in the city for over 25 years.
Speaking to Proper Manchester last year, when it was first reported that the businesses were facing closure, owner Mark McCall said: “It’s a sign of the times.”
On the changing face of the city centre, the 59 year-old from Cheetham Hill added: “For me, myself, personally, all the city centre is becoming plastic. If we go, all we need is another McDonalds or Starbucks.
“We’re doing okay, but we’re surrounded by supermarkets, we’ve got Tescos, we’ve got Co-op, we’ve got Aldi, we’ve got Morrisons. This is the last bit of character left in Manchester city centre.
“If you could show me somewhere else in the centre that’s not been redeveloped, I’ll give you a million pounds. Show me a piece of land that’s left — there is none. The city has changed massively. I’m a bit old fashioned, I preferred it the way it was.
“I’ve built this up over 25 years and the lad next door to me has been here all together 53 years. I’ve done this since I was 14 years of age so I don’t know what else I would do.”
Also speaking to Proper last year, Eddie Hopkinson added: “I keep getting feedback from the customers saying that they don’t want to see us go, but on the other hand, I can’t go on forever.
The empty tower block above the shops on Church Street is set to be developed into apartments. Make sure you head down this weekend to support them and say goodbye before they close their doors for good.”
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