8:35am Tuesday 19th January 2010
By Richard Catton
A GREENGROCER from York who closes his shop door for the last time tomorrow believes the area is dying.
Mike Burbidge, who has run The Greengrocer in Front Street, Acomb, since 2001, said those who still think of the row of shops in the community as vibrant and busy are wrong.
The 42-year-old, who employs eight staff, blamed the demise of his business on high rents, internet shopping and competition from the nearby Morrison’s supermarket.
He said: “It’s been dying a death for the past five years. Last week we were down £3,500 on the same period last year, but it wasn’t the weather – we were busier in the snow.
“Morrison’s are very aggressive on the high street – they are doing 30p bags of fruit and we just can’t compete with that."
Mr Burbidge will close his store at 1pm tomorrow, leaving his staff out of work and himself considering his own future. He says the outlook for Front Street is bleak.
He said: “I think it will die a death. The public perception of Acomb now is cafés and charity shops.”
The view was echoed by regular customer, George Thomson-Smith, who said: “This will be replaced by another charity shop. I think it’s a disaster for the people who shop here and the people who work here."
A spokesman for Morrisons said: “We are proud to operate at the heart of the community and are committed to enhancing the local area. We believe the store attracts shoppers to Acomb which is a benefit to local businesses.”
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