Customers and traders at Grimsby’s Top Town Market have expressed a mix of emotions as the centre prepares to close its doors for the final time today, after nearly 50 years in the town.
Originally opened in 1976, the market will be demolished to make way for the £50 million Freshney Place Leisure Scheme.
Around ten traders will relocate to a unit currently occupied by One Beyond in April, while others will either have to wait for the new market hall to open, move to other locations, or close down entirely. North East Lincolnshire Council confirmed that One Beyond was given notice to make way for the temporary market earlier this year.
As traders pack up their stalls and prepare to leave behind the businesses that have supported them for decades, some will be subject to at least three months without a base, while others face completely uncertain futures.
Naturally, the closure of the market has sparked a wave of emotions from both traders and customers alike.
Grimsby News visited Top Town Market for the final time to speak with traders about what the closure means for them.
One trader, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I’ve been here for around three years and it’s like a community, so this situation is really disappointing. The council have had this planned for a long time so they should have had somewhere for us all to go ready before the market shut. I’m still not entirely sure what I’m going to do now.
“There have been traders and shoppers who are here every day coming in in tears. It’s a community hub. That’s what’s so sad. It’s like people’s lives and livelihoods have been forgotten.”
A stall-holder who has traded on the market since it first opened said: “I’ve been here since it opened so it’s a shame to witness the decline and what is happening now. I know the council are providing temporary accommodation, but there’s not room for everybody, so a lot of stalls won’t be able to go. What are those people supposed to do now?
“Back in the day it was lovely, there used to be five of us on one stall and there was a waiting list because it was so full. It’s just a sorry state to see now.”
Another described their “profound sadness” at the loss of community.
They said: “I think its the end of our little community of the people that are left. They have not just been colleagues, a lot of them are friends and unfortunately not everyone is going to the new temporary market. It’s sad because it’s the end of the community.”
Some said they were hopeful that the sense of community could be rebuild in the new location.”
North East Lincolnshire Council said market traders have been offered “a full support package to assist them to transition going forward.”
The market will close its doors for the final time at 4PM today, Saturday 1 February. It will then be decommissioned, and demolition will begin a shortly while after.
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2020.