A confectioners which has traded in the town for decades has announced its closure.
Thorntons has decided not to renew their lease so the company will close their Grove Street shop on Saturday 6th April.
Manager Rhianne Staton-Barnett said "The main reason is the rent which is absolutely extortionate for the amount of people we are getting through the door.
"The footfall in Wilmslow has died down, nobody is shopping on this high street anymore."
Thorntons opened in their current location in 1995 but prior to that they had a shop called the Chocolate Kabin, the name Thorntons previously traded as, located at the other end of Grove Street.
Rhianne added "We are probably one of the longest running shops in Wilmslow, which is really quite sad, and I have been here seven years.
"Lots of elderly customers keep telling me they remember the Chocolate Kabin being there when they were a kid so we must have been in Wilmslow for a long time."
Thorntons rebranded the shop So Cocoa in 2010, which was a new venture for the company catering at all price levels and stocking a wide change of chocolate brands, however this was short-lived and the store soon reverted to the more established Thorntons brand.
Thorntons currently has a closing down sale but will continue to stock the full range until they close on 6th April when they intend to have a bit of a farewell party.
Do you remember the Chocolate Cabin on Grove Street? If so share your memories via the comment box below.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
The high rents are set by the property owners / landlords at regular rent reviews during Lease or at renewal.
The centre of Wilmslow has always charged high rents, often passed on to the customer in higher prices.
The Thornton's brand has experienced fluctuating profits for several years, partly due to competitiom. Locally this resulted in changing premises and re-branding, which appears to have failed. The only option being to suurender the Lease after x years, in order to survive elsewhere.
If Wilmlsow Business Group wants to support its members, perhaps it should compile an anonymous address list of av rents / business rates for central Wilmsow retailers,based on sg ft of leased space, banded low av high?
When Thorntons close, can we expect retail planning applications from Cash Convertors, Pay Day loan Cos, Cash in your Gold Cos, a Pawnbroker, Pound Shop or Bookmakers etc?
Perhaps if ST Lounge licence is declined we will end up with an Aldi supermarket or an ord Nightclub venue?
When M&S were refused permission for a Wimlsow shop, pre Handforth Dean, it led my OAP neighbour to observe you could buy a fur coat but no knickers in Wilmslow/
What new shops/retail outlets do residents want for Wilmslow centre?
It is encouraging to see the new fishmonger take up the challenge and it would be great if other independent butchers / greengrocers / bakers could be persuaded to join in and provide an alternative to supermarket shopping.