A newsagent in Chester city centre is closing just over a year after a Sainsbury’s Local store opened nearby.
Diane Addison, of Watergate News, in Watergate Street, previously warned the convenience outlet, which opened in November 2014, would impact on several businesses in the street including her own.
Now a ‘closing down sale’ banner has appeared in the window of the long-established newsagent’s. The Chronicle understands Sainsbury’s is being cited as a factor.
The opening of a Tesco Express in Pepper Street was blamed when Grosvenor News closed in Cuppin Street in 2013.
Diane, who was unavailable when The Chronicle called this week, said previously: “There’s only so much of the pie that can be evenly spread out and I think there’s more than enough supermarkets in this city.
“They’ve gone and taken all the green belt out of the city. Now they’ve come back to pick up what that they haven’t taken already. They want everything and it is pure greed.”
Sainsbury’s has always contended that its Watergate Street store, with a 2,300 sq ft sales area, could actually help businesses by generating increased foot-fall in the area.
Peta Brydon, Sainsbury’s project manager, said prior to opening: “Chester city centre has a vibrant economy and we are confident from our experience of opening other Local stores that they prove popular with city centre shoppers and bring additional customers to nearby shops.
“Sainsbury’s convenience shops are designed for people ‘topping up’ their weekly shop while offering Sainsbury’s range of products including fresh fruit and vegetables and baked goods. However, this offer is very different to the wide range of goods stocked by the specialist shops available in Watergate Street.
“Equally, as traders in the area voted overwhelmingly in favour of implementing a Business Improvement District, we are confident we can help by playing our part to improve business for everyone.”
