Last orders at M&S Cafe closing forever today after 15 years in ‘sad day’ for city centre
A MARKS and Spencer cafe has taken its final orders after 15 years of service.
The M&S cafe in the Eagles Meadow Foodhall in Wrexham closed its doors forever on Saturday, November 4, 2023.
It is part of a nationwide move for the supermarket as it prepares to permanently shut ten of its stores and relocate to new sites this year.
The main store will remain open until Thursday, November 30, but the cafe is no more.
A post on the retailer’s Facebook page reads: “After 15 fantastic years, our cafe doors will close for the final time on Saturday, November 4 at 5pm.
“We’ve loved every minute of serving our brilliant customers over the years, and we look forward to seeing you in our shiny new Simply Food store.”
It has left regulars devastated and fans were quick to comment on the post, with many saying how sad they are to see the store close for good.
One disappointed shopper said: “So sad, end of an era but you’re all fabulous.”
Another added: “A sad day for Wrexham Town centre. The cafe and its staff will be missed by so many.”
A third commented: “Thank you so much for all your care and support over the years.
“I am going to miss the cafe. For me, it’s been a weekly visit/institution.”
However, shoppers upset by the loss of the store will be getting a brand new Simply Good store in the nearby Plas Coch Retail Park on December 1.
It is situated around two miles away from the current store, on the other side of town.
The M&S closures are part of 67 expected over the next five years.
The high street brand is looking to shut some of its “lower productivity, full-line stores” to cut costs.
But the retailer plans to operate 180 full-line and 400 food halls in the next five years.
The full list of M&S closures that have taken place so far this year, or are still to come, can be seen below:
- East Kilbride – closed in February
- Fenchurch Street, London – March
- Meadowbank Retail Park in Edinburgh – April
- Castleford – April
- Bolton – April
- Cardiff – April
- M&S Simply Food store, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester – August
- Swindon – October 28
- Eagles Meadow Foodhall in Wrexham – November 30
- Weymouth town centre, Dorset – exact date yet to be confirmed
New flagship M&S stores have already started popping up in several major UK cities this year, with more openings to come.
You can see the full list below:
- Purley Way – opened in April
- Leeds White Rose – opened in May
- Stockport – opened in June
- Liverpool ONE – opened in August
- Birmingham Bullring – to open on November 7
- Uckfield – to open on November 8
- Barnsley – expected Autumn 2023
- Earlsfield – to open on November 16
- Lakeside Thurrock – to open on November 15
- Manchester Trafford Centre – Winter 2023
- Largs – expected Spring 2024
- Dundee – expected Spring 2024
Elsewhere, Sainsbury’s plans to open at least fourteen new stores including a mix of “Local” convenience shops and superstores, while up to eight Local branches face closure by March 2024.
In its latest company results, the supermarket revealed it had closed two convenience stores in the first half of the financial year and plans to close up to ten Sainsbury’s Locals in total in 2023/24.