Shoprite Chester Street store to close

News confirmed this morning (Tues)

Shoprite's Chester Street Store is to close this weekend.

A statement from parent company Isle of Man Enterprises confirmed the news this morning.

It reads as follows:

Shoprite’s parent company Isle of Man Enterprises has confirmed that the Shoprite Store and Subway outlet at the Chester Street Centre in Douglas will close at end of business Saturday 28th April 2018.

All employees from this store will be offered redeployment across the company. The Subway store will be relocated.

Isle of Man Enterprises Chief Executive, Andrew Thomas said:

“Our employees at Chester Street have continued to work tirelessly to serve our customers, despite so many issues outside of their - and our - control, that have negatively impacted the performance of this store. We are very grateful for their efforts and their contribution and commitment to our customers.”

Since 2011, Isle of Man Enterprises has proactively engaged with the landlord to agree a new lease that would suit both parties and address the issues regularly highlighted.

Andrew Thomas continued:

“This closure comes at the end of a long lease where there has been little proactive investment in the fabric of the centre, the car park and the wider centre during the time that we have held the lease. Given pressures on government budgets, the Board feel that this is unlikely to change and we cannot sustain trading from this store  against a backdrop of declining demand in Douglas, poor neighbourhood standards, dramatically shifting industry trends and the planned disruption to the Promenade.”|

He concluded:

“At the end of the current lease we will be handing back the keys to our landlord, the Department of Infrastructure. In the meantime we would like to thank our team and all the customers who have supported Shoprite at this location and we look forward to welcoming our customers to our other 10 locations around the Island including Winerite and Shoprite, Little Switzerland stores on Victoria Road in Douglas.“