'Streets will be empty' if coffee chain with 2,000 stores closes branch
A major coffee chain with 2,000 stores is about to close another branch after a series of closures.
Shoppers fear their “streets will be empty” as the Costa Coffee store announces plans to cease trading.
A Facebook user has informed the public of the store closure in Erdington in February.
“Costa Coffee is closing in Erdington in February, I wonder what that will be,” the person wrote.
The coffee giant's representative confirmed the news and announced that the store will close in March.
A spokesperson for Costa Coffee said: “Our Costa Coffee store on Erdington High Street will close its doors to trading on March 3.
“Our talented team will be deployed to nearby Costa Coffee's in the area.
“Customers can continue to enjoy their favorite Costa coffee at our Drive Thru store which has recently opened on Kingsbury Road, Erdington.”
The spokesperson added that customers could find their nearest store on the company's website.
It was met with disappointment among the brand's fans.
One person wrote: “There will be nothing left up there.”
Another added: “Shame by this time next one year will be a ghost town.”
“I go there every week but it goes downhill very quickly,” said another.
Reviews for the online store describe it as “a great place to get a Nice hot drink” and say the staff is “very friendly and nice”.
But the store's closure was even more devastating news for local music and art lovers.
A jazz live band “Rhythm and Bone” has been performing on the grounds of the Costa branch for ten years.
The group announced on Facebook that their free lunch concerts are coming to an end as they struggle to find a new venue.
The band member wrote: 'One week until Costa Coffee Erdington closes for Rhythm and Bone's lunch gig.
“For the last ten times a month we have been playing. Now it's hard to find a venue!”
They continued: “We don't get paid for these gigs, we see them as enhancing the culture of Erdington by bringing New York Supper club music to the village.”
Elsewhere, Costa has prepared to close two more branches in just a few days.
Costa Coffee previously announced that its store on Chiswick High Road would close on February 6, 2024.
Meanwhile, Costa Coffee at Bruntsfield Place in Edinburgh will serve its last latte on February 14.
The big favorite has already closed the doors of dozens of locations in recent months.
Costa says it regularly reviews its stores in the UK to ensure it is suitable for its communities and teams.
This includes the closure or renovation of existing stores, or the opening of new stores.
The following locations have already closed in the past year, although a few will return to their local areas.
Costa stores closed 2023/2024
Each of the closed locations has more Costas nearby, which you can find using the search function on the chain's website.
- Coliseum Retail Park in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire – June 3
- Welch Way, Witney – June 5
- Wigan City Center – June 25
- Five Rise Shopping Centre, Bingley – July 9
- High Street, Worcester – July (rescheduled to September 15)
- Lowestoft's North Quay retail park – July 23 (refurbishment)
- Church Street, Oakham – September 15th
- West Bridgford, near Nottingham – September 22
- Commercial Street, Newport, Wales – October
- Church Street in Malvern, near Worcestershire – November 17
- Gatwick Airport South Terminal – November
- Packhorse Road, Buckinghamshire – January 10
- King Street, Maidstone, Kent – January 20
This comes next Poundland has announced it will be shuttering its store Scotland end of February for good.
A spokesperson for Poundland confirmed The Sun's closure, saying it had been unable to renew the store's lease or find another location in Galashiels.
They said: “We are as disappointed as colleagues and customers that we have not been able to extend our current lease or find alternative premises in Galashiels.
“Unfortunately, this means the store will close at the end of February. If we can find the right premises in the future, nothing would give us more pleasure than returning to the city.”
It says it will do everything it can to take care of the store's employees.
What else is happening on the shopping street?
Retailers have been feeling the pressure since the pandemic, as shoppers cut back on spending due to the rising cost of living.
High energy costs and the move to online shopping after the pandemic are also taking their toll, with many high street stores struggling to continue.
The high street has seen a slew of closures in the past year and more are in the pipeline.
Sales volumes fell 3.2% in December, Office for National Statistics data showed, compared with a 1.4% increase a month earlier.
Food and drink have also been affected, causing major brands such as Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's to close branches.
In early 2023, hamburger chain Byron Burger collapsed, resulting in the loss of more than 200 jobs.
Italian chain Prezzo also announced plans last year to close 46 restaurants due to rising energy and food costs, putting 810 jobs at risk.
Lidl will pull down the shutters on its Thornaby site later this month.
The bargain retailer has confirmed that its Stockton-on-Tees locations will close on February 29.