Our shopping centre was once the crown jewel in our city – now it’s turned into a ghost town and left to rot
A ONCE thriving shopping centre boasting big name stores has now been labelled a “ghost town” by locals.
The now forlorn mall was once home to Argos, TJ Hughes and Herb Magic and booming local businesses.
Locals have now compared Coventry’s City Arcade to a “ghost town” after the majority of big name retailers moved to a nearby shopping scheme.
Pictures show just a handful of shoppers wandering around the centre which is now set for demolition.
The majority of shops are empty and most have the shutters pulled down. Even the cafes and sweet shops have packed up and left.
Shoppers have said the mall is yet another “white elephant” and questioned if the new shopping centre would be a success.
One said: “Such a shame – in the 80s we used to go in a few shops in the arcade. Sad sign of modern times.”
Another said: ”Another White Elephant for Coventry, and the City Centre should of been knocked down and rebuilt years ago.
“Even the out of town shopping parks are second rate.
“The council need to go take a long look at Elliot’s Field in Rugby to see how it’s done.”
A local man said many people refused to go shopping due to the cost of parking.
He said: “Car parking is a joke, it costs more to park your car than what you’ll spend.
“Make it free to park or £1 all day and people will come to the centre – a lot of people choose out of town shopping parks as free parking over stupid-priced city car parks.
Coventry City Council say the development will “create new homes, retail spaces, leisure facilities and more – to make the city centre an attractive place to work, live and invest in.”
The City Centre South project is not set to be completed until summer 2033, according to the council website.