People’s Market Traders Move to ‘Temporary’ Accommodation in South Mall & Butchers Market
The Butchers Market in the town centre is busier than ever with traders from the People’s Market have moved to ‘temporary accommodation’.
While the main hall of the People’s Markets closed last Friday, the vast majority of its traders are still open for business in new, temporary (and some permanent) locations elsewhere in the town centre, with the Butcher’s Market showcased yesterday with it being busier than ever.
Five traders, Sweet Sensations – the confectionery stall, Esme’s baby, infant and children’s wear, Little B’s Haberdashery, Guardians of the Garden ornaments and Antiques and bric-a-brac, have also re-located and can now be found trading from the Butcher’s Market.
Wrexham Vacs is moving into 10a High Street and Piccolos Music and The Story Teller will continue at Oriel Wrecsam and within the Butcher’s Market throughout the coming year.
The traders have relocated as a result of construction work taking place at the main market hall and first floor car park of the People’s Market.
Costing £4.5 million, work on the development will start this month and is due for completion, we’re told in ‘spring 2018’ a slight move from the previously mentioned January 2018.
Once complete the multi-million pound development will provide two galleries – one to national standards for the display of exhibitions, a number of flexible performance spaces, the Oriel Wrecsam shop, learning and education space and a food court. Other features include a Shepherd’s Hut workshop space, new furniture, seating and signage.”
The new development will also feature market space, with those traders who have relocated having the option to return to the new space once complete in 2018.
New signage has appeared on the doors with maps now in place to point people to the new locations of some traders:
Although yesterday’s focus was on the Butchers Market, in the South Mall of the People’s Market (which can be accessed via the entrance next to Emz Cakes on Chester Street) shoppers can now find:
– RKM Wools
– The Cafe in the Corner
– Rings ‘n’ Things Jewellery
– Wrexham Jewellery Repairs
– Gemini Blinds
– Kendricks Newsagents
– Dexterity Ink Tattoo Studio
All businesses listed above will continue to trade in the South Mall throughout the construction period.
Speaking about the upcoming construction work and relocation of traders, Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead member for Communities and Partnerships, said: “It is great that work is starting on this key investment into the town centre and I am very pleased that traders are happy with the arrangements we have put in place for them to continue to trade during the construction period.
“I know it has caused them some disruption but I am confident the end result will meet their expectations when the development is completed.
“We will be keeping them informed of progress as the works take place over the next twelve months.”
A number of other businesses have also relocated from the markets completely and can now be found trading in the town centre, some of which do not get a mention on the Council details.
Beauty Box celebrated the grand opening of their new store on Bank Street over the weekend and
Jeff’s Furniture can now be found in the old British Heart Foundation shop on Queen’s Square.
The bag stall has also relocated to the Bus Station.
The Country Markets, which have traded every Friday in the People’s Market for twenty years can be found Wingetts Salerooms, Holt Street, every Friday from 20 January between 9:30am and 2pm.
tWIG (The Wrexham Independent Gallery) will be holding its January Exhibition upstairs at the Wrexham Library – and there are plans to locate to the Butchers Market in the future.
One question which has been asked several times over the past few months is why the traders could not move to the former TJ Hughes building on Henblas Street.
Explaining why it was not possible, Cllr Jones said the Council had approached the landlords to see if such an option was feasible, however there was ‘no interest’ in a such a short term lease by the owners.
We attempted again to get clarity in the decision making process on the closure, with Cllr Jones noting he did not think a Freedom of Information request was required as it was ‘pretty straightforward’.
Unfortunately our FOI had already been lodged on the 9th of December, and as we were having the conversation the weighty reply (250+ pages) was just landing in our inbox. A fuller report on that will be on the site soon.
Spotted something? Got a story? Email [email protected]
