Leeds 'most famous' butcher is leaving Kirkgate Market due to “high rent and minimal footfall”.
Malcolm Leary, 53, co-owner of Malcolm Michaels Quality Butchers, is “gutted” to be leaving the city-centre market as he’s been working there since he was a teenager.
Malcolm and his staff put up signs today (March 14) announcing that ‘Sadly, after 40 years we are leaving Leeds Kirkgate Market’.
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The dad-of-three launched the business with his uncle Michael, 70, in 1993 and now runs it with Adrian Thorp, 54.
He's been described as 'Leeds' most famous butcher' and for good reason. During his time in business, he's organised several charitable campaigns to support the community and the business has amassed nearly 4,000 followers on Instagram.
Malcolm spoke about the heartbreak of leaving the market, the reasons behind the move and where the butchers will next be taking up residence.
He said: “I’m gutted I’m leaving, absolutely gutted I’m leaving. I’m 53 and I started here when I was 14, I’ve worked 39 years here, 29 of them I’ve been self-employed. It’s horrendous.
“I had no choice, rents are high. We’d been having to go to the high street, out of the doors anyway to get trade.
"Trade was not coming to us. If we just sat back here and waited for it to come to us, it wouldn’t happen.
“The footfall here is minimal and the rent is just short of £120,000 a year and we just couldn’t make it click.
“The shop I’m going into is bigger and it’s less rent.”
'Exciting' plans for two new shops
Malcolm will be opening two new “state of the art” shops, one will be in the former Bonmarché in Kirkgate, Leeds city centre, just over the road from the market.
The other new shop will be located in the Crossgates Shopping Centre.
They will each retain the Malcolm Michaels brand name.
Malcolm has set out on the new venture with his business partner Adrian. They’re opening the new shops for their sons Marcus Leary, 22, and Nathan Thorp, 30. The pair have been a big part of the business, working beside their fathers.
The new city-centre shop will be run managed by Malcolm, Adrian and Nathan.
Marcus will be managing the Crossgates shop with employee of ten years Kieran Martin, who Malcolm described as "family".
While Marcus is “excited” to see what the future holds, he will dearly miss the fellow trader at the market.
Malcolm said: “They’re not just friends, they’re like my family. They know me inside out, they’re not happy we’re going but they understand. I’m going to miss them massively.”
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The 53-year-old sees the new shop as a chance to “evolve” with the changing times, just like how he’s adapted the business in response to the Covid-19 pandemic
He plans to close the Kirkgate Market stall for the final time on May 15.
The new city-centre shop in Kirkgate will open on May 9 and Malcolm plans to have the Crossgates shop open within the next four weeks.
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