End of an era as Co-op finally announces closure
Thursday, 20th October 2011.
The end of an era in Haverhill comes for the Co-op when its Jubilee Walk store closes down on November 26.
The local Co-operative Society has had a store in the town since the late 19th century and built a new ornate store on the corner of High Street and Swan Lane in the eraly 1900s.
As the town expanded the store grew and became part of the Cambridge Co-operative Society, and had a department store in that building until the 1980s.
When Sainsbury's built its new edge-of-town store and moved out of its Jubilee Walk premises, the Co-op took that over as a foodstore and re-branded it as Leo's, by which name it became popularly known and often still is.
The High Street building was rented out by the Co-op as a market hall for the best part of a decade before Peacocks and Argos took it over.
But since the arrival of Aldi and then Tesco, many people guessed the Co-op's days in Haverhill were numbered.
The axe has finally fallen after the group failed to find a buyer for the store, and it is rumoured it had hopes of creating a convenience store on the former Mount Pleasant petrol station site in Withersfield Road, which fell through.
The 33 part-time and one full time staff have been informed and efforts will be made to redeploy them where possible within the Co-operative group.
The local Co-operative Society has had a store in the town since the late 19th century and built a new ornate store on the corner of High Street and Swan Lane in the eraly 1900s.
As the town expanded the store grew and became part of the Cambridge Co-operative Society, and had a department store in that building until the 1980s.
When Sainsbury's built its new edge-of-town store and moved out of its Jubilee Walk premises, the Co-op took that over as a foodstore and re-branded it as Leo's, by which name it became popularly known and often still is.
The High Street building was rented out by the Co-op as a market hall for the best part of a decade before Peacocks and Argos took it over.
But since the arrival of Aldi and then Tesco, many people guessed the Co-op's days in Haverhill were numbered.
The axe has finally fallen after the group failed to find a buyer for the store, and it is rumoured it had hopes of creating a convenience store on the former Mount Pleasant petrol station site in Withersfield Road, which fell through.
The 33 part-time and one full time staff have been informed and efforts will be made to redeploy them where possible within the Co-operative group.
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