Local shoppers have been 'rallying' to sign a petition to keep 50-year-old Hall Green Waitrose open

The Waitrose store in Hall Green, Birmingham, is facing closure after 50 years of service, and local shoppers are not taking the news lightly.

The store located 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 store for many locals.

The announcement of the closure has sparked a wave of community action, with residents rallying to save their beloved supermarket.

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

Debbie Morton, a long-time resident, initiated a petition on Change.org to keep the store open.

The petition has been signed by more than 600 people in less than 48 hours, showing the strength of local support for the supermarket which is set to close in January next year.

Reflecting the community’s strong attachment to the store, the petition has already garnered over 800 signatures.

Debbie Morton shared, “I’ve shopped at Waitrose for probably 25 years, and it’s more of a pleasant shopping experience than most supermarkets,”.

Many locals have expressed their disappointment and concern over the closure, describing it as “ a significant loss” for the area.

Steve Pate, a supporter of Laura’s petition, adds: “I agree with all the reasons given, having been a customer here over 25 years. This store is warm and friendly with familiar helpful staff. This is unlike the “new” Solihull store which is cold and not part of the local community. This store is my first choice for weekly shopping.”

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.

The store is scheduled to close on January 14, 2025, but the community’s efforts to save it continue.

The petition can be seen here: Change.org/KeepHallGreenWaitroseOpen,