A long-standing Wilmslow clothes shop has confirmed it will be moving to new premises in the town centre and is aiming to re-open in the spring.
Wardrobe, which stocks European menswear, will be closing its shop at St Ann's Parade on Saturday 18th February and relocating to 29 Alderley Road, in the unit which was previously occupied by the Hoopers' menswear department.
Andrew and Claire O'Grady have owned the business for over ten years and rebranded it in the autumn of 2014. The business has been trading in Wilmslow for 41 years though, previously under the name of Leonard's, which was founded in 1975.
Speaking about the move Claire O'Grady told wilmslow.co.uk "The town centre has changed and shifted over the years, leaving St Ann's Parade very much on the periphery of the shopping boundary and rendering it much more suited to administrative use.
"We were keen to find an alternative, suitable property from which to trade within Wilmslow as we have grown our business here, live here and feel that the town benefits from independent retailers."
Following 6-8 weeks of refurbishment they aim to re-open for business by the end of April.
Claire added "We are very much looking forward to showcasing our beautiful European menswear in an equally handsome and historic building, and to many more years of successful trade within Wilmslow.
"We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their ongoing custom and support over the years, and look forward to greeting our old friends and meeting new ones in the new store."
Comments
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There will always be people who say 'the town should do this' or whatever, but the town is just bricks and mortar... its the people and businesses who do stuff.
This move is significant, it is bigger than you think, support it, support the town and its initiatives, and please dont just moan about things, do something.
Really best wishes for the move.
We need to see independent butchers, grocers, greengrocers, bakers and fish merchants in the town - if people can do ALL of their shopping in the town they will be less inclined to jump in their cars and drive out of town.
The eye-watering rents and rates don't allow the small, low margin businesses to survive - but there is a huge knock-on effect throughout Wilmslow's retail business.
Time for a re-think perhaps?
Anyone establishing a butchers, grocers, greengrocers, bakers and fish merchants in the town centre now may as well just set fire to their money. There was a fishmonger on Grove Street in the last few years and it disappeared very quickly. Can you imagine how big a greengrocer would need to be carry a greater range than Sainsburys or Waitrose? Or at a competitive price? Supermarkets won that battle years ago, and 99% of people would rather buy all they need under one roof.
There are very many people around town who are not as satisfied as you with the range and quality offered by the supermarkets.
Two things brought about the demise of the Grove St fishmonger - extortionate rent / rates and the soulless character of the Grove St precinct.
The independent shops on Chapel Lane are thriving against competition from the supermarkets and there appears to be growing support for them.
I don't think rents are the issue. Even in areas where rents are cheap the supermarkets still dominate.