‘Dwindling Footfall & Unreasonable Rent’ Will See Town Centre Bakery Close This Month

A town centre bakery is to close after 30 years of trading as a result of ‘unreasonable rent’ and dwindling footfall.

Earlier this week one person contacted Wrexham.com to say that they had been told Gerrards store on Queen Street was to close.

This has since been confirmed by a sign in the store window, which notes that ‘with great sadness’, the bakery will be closing at the end of the month after 30 years of trading in the town centre.

The sign in the window states: “Over the years, we have enjoyed welcoming and serving our valued customers and have watched their families grow.

“The years have also seen Wrexham town centre undergo many changes, but unfortunately the recent changes have not been positive ones, with shops closing all around us and customer footfall dwindling. After unsuccessful negotiations with the landlord, due to unreasonable rent and rates now being demanded on this site, we find ourselves regrettably having to announce this shop’s closure.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our loyal customers for the very valued custom over the years – but we very much hope to count on your continued support at our shop on 7-9 Lord Street.”

The company, which employs 125 members of staff, will continue to trade on Lord Street Wrexham, Acton, Gresford, Rhos, Chirk and Llangollen

A statement since released by the company reads: “After 30 years of trading from our Queen Street shop in Wrexham, we have taken the commercial decision to close its doors on Saturday 30th January 2016. This has been a difficult decision to take, as the business’s main focus has always been on Wrexham and will continue to be. We are currently in the process of meeting with our Queen Street staff to try and secure their future elsewhere within the company.

“We also have nine direct delivery bakery vans which leave our Wrexham bakery daily with fresh products to deliver to offices, factories and garages in the surrounding area. An additional two of these vans are in the pipeline to start up in the next few months. We are always looking for further suitable sites to cope with the shift in customer footfall in Wrexham town centre, particularly in good suburban positions.”

The announcement of the store’s closure will mean that this will be the fourth vacant shop on this particular row of stores, along with the several empty premises across the way on Henblas Street. Last year Card Outlet on Queen Street closed due to ‘intense competition’.

Gerrards will close its doors on Queen Street for the final time on Saturday 30th January.