Pete was seven when his family first pitched up at the old Gorton Market. The Sivoris have been making ice cream in Manchester for more than a century.
Selling ice cream on the vans since he was 17, Pete took over the Gorton café before the market moved to its current home on Garratt Way, where supermarket Leo's once stood. But, after 47 years on the market, Sivori's Café is set to close next week.
"It's got to the point where it's not sustainable for me," Pete says, sipping an espresso. "The customer base is the same, but the overheads are too high."
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Pete is not alone. According to another stallholder, several market traders have left over the last year, including stalls selling clothes, bags and rugs.
Some say the issue is footfall, while others blame the high cost of rent. But for Pete, it's electricity prices, which he says have risen 200 pc since September.
The café survived Covid, but has struggled to stay afloat during the cost of living crisis. And as energy costs are expected to continue increasing, even with a skeleton staff, Pete says he simply cannot afford to keep the lights on.
"I've adapted, but it's not an overhead I can put into my prices," he said. "I can't turn any more equipment off."
The cafe's closure next Saturday (February 4) comes weeks after Manchester council gave the green light to a new masterplan for Gorton. Still in its early stages, it sets out aspirations for the area such as creating a night-time economy and expanding the existing market to offer more food and drink.
The plan would see the market opened out onto a new town square which could host outdoor stalls and events, but the building itself would stay. The local authority says it wants 'improve the layout' of the market and make it more attractive to customers, while also making improvements for traders.
But some are sceptical, accusing the council of 'not caring' about the market. One trader, who asks to remain anonymous, points to a leak in the roof which he tells customers is the new 'Trafford Centre water feature' at the market.
He jokes because he has lost faith that the market will be maintained properly. Some point to 'Christmas lights' which were put up two years ago and have stayed on ever since, while Diamond Jubilee bunting is still draped above too.
Ali Javed, who took over his uncle's stall two years ago, criticises the security at the market, saying he had £1,200 worth of clothes stolen in one go last year. And he believes the market lacks the marketing needed to bring in business.
"There's people here who don't even know the market exists," he says. "We're taking the same money in three days as we did in six days."
Footfall in the market has not fully recovered following the pandemic, the council says, although footfall in the wider area has in fact increased. The local authority says the new masterplan aims to make the market more attractive.
Manchester council claims the festoon lights 'enhance the ambience of the walkways' and are in keeping with the current trend of mood lighting, while the British flags stayed in place to support the national teams in the World Cup.
The town hall has also agreed to invest in a new roof for the market. It follows other investments in the area from the council - like the new £22m Gorton Hub, now home to a library, job centre and GP practice, which opened in November.
The area has also seen a new high school, housing and a youth club opened recently while Hyde Road has also been widened. The new masterplan for Gorton aims to improve walking and cycling routes to and through the area and earmarks council-owned land north of Garratt Way for development.
In total, 400 new homes are planned, including affordable housing. And the current gymnastics club could also move to a new facility, according to the plan, which proposes a purpose-built centre that meets modern standards.
Matthew Filton, who has run a phone shop at the market since the current site opened 15 years ago, confirms Gorton has been getting 'a lot of investment'. "It's a busier area," he says. "There's people from all over the world here."
However, he is unsure whether bars and restaurants would suit the area. Local councillor Julie Reid says the idea is to offer an alternative for people living in Gorton who currently leave the area if they want to eat or drink in the evening.
But some stallholders say opening the market late will not work. Asked about the plans, one woman, who did not share her name, said: "It's not Didsbury.
"They're saying they want to open bars and restaurants, but no one's here during the day," she added. Other traders say they know nothing about the plans for the future of the market, where all of their leases will end next year.
Pete is positive about the plans – but Sivori's won't survive to see it. "If they do this regeneration," he says. "I'll be first in the queue and see what's available.
"But once I'm gone, I'm gone. I can't say without a shadow of a doubt that I'll come back. I'd like to think I could. It would be nice if it was in a new Gorton."
A Manchester City Council spokesperson said: "Our hope is to excite the traders at Gorton Market with our proposals to invest in and improve the current market site and take them on this journey alongside us. The ambition is to improve the layout of the market, improve the frontage to attract more customers and to make it more environmentally friendly.
"Although specific plans are some way off, our proposals would see the market building open out on to a new town square for Gorton, which would allow a safe and flexible space for outdoors markets and events. Importantly the building is staying – but we will look to improve it for both the traders and visitors.
"The aim of the development framework for Gorton is to create a new focal point that will attract new shoppers and visitors, adding to and enhancing the current offer. This will be alongside new housing, new green spaces and new walking and cycling routes.
"Following on from the public consultation in December and January, we will continue a conversation with the traders throughout the process."
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