Beloved Waitrose store in Hall Green closing after 50 years leaving shoppers ‘extremely gutted'

The Waitrose store in Hall Green, Birmingham, is set to close its doors after 50 years of service. The announcement has left many local residents and loyal customers saddened and concerned in the surprising turn of events.

The Waitrose store on Stratford Road first opened its doors in 1971 and has since been a staple in the Hall Green community.

For five decades, it has provided high-quality groceries and exceptional customer service, becoming a beloved institution for many locals.

Hall Green North Councillor Saima Suleman shared the news on Facebook stating:

“I was saddened to receive communication from John Lewis plc earlier today informing me that Waitrose Hall Green will be closing. Waitress has been part of the Hall Green Community for over 50 years, they do not take this decision lightly. However I have been informed that they have found trading challenging over the last few years. I hope to meet with their Partnership team to discuss this further.”

Many locals have expressed their disappointment and concern over the closure.

One wrote, “That's disappointing! It's one of my favourites since moving back to Birmingham in this area.” Another wrote, “It is so sad for the staff, the area & the surrounding community.”

The decision to close the store was described by bosses as a ‘last resort’ after efforts to boost falling profits at the branch. The store has faced significant challenges, including declining profits and increased competition. Despite efforts to improve its commercial viability, the decision was made to shut down operations.

Waitrose has initiated redundancy consultations to support its employees during this transition.

Customers who shopped at the Hall Green Waitrose store can still purchase their groceries from waitrose.com, the nearby Waitrose store in Solihull, and other on-demand locations if the closure is confirmed.

Get the latest headlines, straight to your inbox, with BirminghamWorld’s free emails