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19/10/2018
Ashers Bakery To Close City Centre Branch Due To Primark Fire
Ashers Bakery will not be renewing the lease on it's Royal Avenue branch due to the drop in sales following the blaze that destroyed Primark.
Footfall in Belfast city centre has slumped by a third in the aftermath of the August fire and Ashers is just a few yards away from the burned-out shell of the historic Bank Buildings.
In an announcement last night, the company said it is trading well and the decision to close the branch in Royal Avenue is based purely on commercial considerations relating to that outlet.
General manager Daniel McArthur said: "It simply comes down to the figures.
"Belfast city centre isn't busy enough - our other shops are just much busier."
The outlet is one of nine sites operated by the company in the east Antrim and Belfast area.
Mr McArthur added: "It's been planned for some time, and I am pleased to say there will be no job losses."
News of the Ashers closure comes as city centre traders say the once-vibrant shopping heart of the city has become a 'ghost-town' following the devastating blaze.
A security cordon is in place to ensure public safety, but it also prevents shoppers from reaching many businesses near to the remainder of Primark at the Castle Junction.
Some traders have called for the building to be demolished to mitigate the economic impact, while heritage campaigners have called for the listed building to be saved.
The owners of the family-run business, the McArthurs, made headlines recently as they won a landmark discrimination appeal at the Supreme Court.
Judges unanimously agreed the company had not discriminated on grounds of sexual orientation, religious belief or political opinion when they refused to decorate a cake with the message "Support Gay Marriage".
It was ruled that the bakery objected to the message and not the customer.
(JG/MH)
Footfall in Belfast city centre has slumped by a third in the aftermath of the August fire and Ashers is just a few yards away from the burned-out shell of the historic Bank Buildings.
In an announcement last night, the company said it is trading well and the decision to close the branch in Royal Avenue is based purely on commercial considerations relating to that outlet.
General manager Daniel McArthur said: "It simply comes down to the figures.
"Belfast city centre isn't busy enough - our other shops are just much busier."
The outlet is one of nine sites operated by the company in the east Antrim and Belfast area.
Mr McArthur added: "It's been planned for some time, and I am pleased to say there will be no job losses."
News of the Ashers closure comes as city centre traders say the once-vibrant shopping heart of the city has become a 'ghost-town' following the devastating blaze.
A security cordon is in place to ensure public safety, but it also prevents shoppers from reaching many businesses near to the remainder of Primark at the Castle Junction.
Some traders have called for the building to be demolished to mitigate the economic impact, while heritage campaigners have called for the listed building to be saved.
The owners of the family-run business, the McArthurs, made headlines recently as they won a landmark discrimination appeal at the Supreme Court.
Judges unanimously agreed the company had not discriminated on grounds of sexual orientation, religious belief or political opinion when they refused to decorate a cake with the message "Support Gay Marriage".
It was ruled that the bakery objected to the message and not the customer.
(JG/MH)
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