After 35 years, Sainsburys in Stockport town centre has cashed up its tills and closed its doors for the last time.
Located alongside the M60, on the 29th of October 1985 a brand new supermarket arrived in Stockport, the biggest in the area attracting shoppers from all across the borough and helping to introduce the town centre to a new influx of shoppers.
Now, 35 years later the supermarket has closed leaving a smaller Sainsburys convenience store at Stockport Exchange.
Along with her colleagues, store manager Gabrielle Betley is sad to see such a large and popular store leave the town centre where some of the team have been serving customers for most of those 35 years:
“It is the end of an era and I have been proud to have been heading up a great team for 2 1/2 years. So many of us have been here for many years; just in my bakery I have four colleagues who have clocked up 108 years’ service between them!
“But what am I also proud of is that I have been able to redeploy 100% of all colleagues who wished to be which just shows they are not quite ready to say a final farewell to Sainsburys who have been a fantastic company to work for and supportive of the local community. 72 colleagues will leave Stockport happy!
“And even though we knew the store was closing, we have given £1400 to the local community in the last 2 months alone with much needed donations!
“The legacy of Sainsburys Stockport is we delivered amazing service to our local community! It really is the end of an era!”
It isn’t just her customers and staff that will miss the store. Until four years ago, Sainsburys was also home to the town centre Police team and the whole team gathered to say ‘thank you’ for the support they had from Gabs and the team at Stockport Sainsburys.
Sergeant Philip Lowe told Gabs:
“The Town Centre Police team and your store have had a special relationship over the years that deserves to be the envy of everyone. From being our work-home through to the kind and generous use of your facilities, you have played a major part in keeping Policing very much visible in Stockport Town Centre and have truly had a significantly positive effect on the local community.
“My whole team loved being part of your work family, and still to this day speak fondly of their time in “the old Sainsbury’s office”