Shoppers in Nottingham city centre were left in complete shock after it was announced a popular city centre McDonald’s will soon close its doors. The chain on Exchange Walk will be closing after 34 years in June and shoppers ‘can’t believe it.’
The last time McDonald's closed a restaurant in Nottinghamshire was in Beeston. A burger joint opened in High Road in 1987 but closed within 20 years because it simply wasn't busy enough.
The Exchange Walk restaurant was often open until the early hours of the morning, serving those on night shifts or visiting after a night out in the city. On Friday, April 28, many shoppers weren’t aware of the shop closing down. Jean Baker, 68 from The Meadows is now retired.
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Usually Jean passes the Exchange Walk McDonald’s chain after shopping in Marks and Spencers. She said: “This has been here for years, I’ve lived in Nottingham all my life and I can’t remember ever hearing about a McDonald's closing, only opening.”
Jean continued: “It’ll be interesting to see what replaces it, it’s a big building. I can’t believe it.”
The Exchange Walk McDonald’s is located near Lister Gate where many shops have closed since the demolition of Broadmarsh. One major chain that has closed down in the area too is Clarks.
Nathan Clarke, 20 is a student. Living in the city centre he said: “I don’t believe that! This is the Maccies I’ll come to for the train journey home.”
Originally from Brighton, Nathan continued: “I’ve never heard of a Maccies closing down before, they’re usually quite quick here and it’s less busy than Clumber Street and Angel Row.”
Kennedy Brett, 31 is from Strelley. The full time mum said. “You hear of independents closing down especially in the last few years but I’m shocked. It’s [McDonald’s] a big two storey building. Unless it’s another big chain, what can you put here?”
McDonald's also has branches in Clumber Street, Angel Row and the Milton Street entrance of Victoria Centre , which opened in 2018 at a cost of £1.5m. Ash Thomas, 29 from West Bridgford works with young people with learning difficulties. He uses that McDonald's chain regularly.
Ash said: “I come here at least once a week, sometimes twice. I think a lot of people are going to be shocked that in any city they don’t really close McDonald’s stores.
“I know there’s more of the stores in town but it’s still unheard of. I’ll miss getting a McCrispy meal and nuggets here.”
Franchisee Jerry Nicholls said: "All staff will move to our other restaurants in Nottingham. The lease for the building is expiring and we have decided not to renew it as we have three other restaurants in the city centre ."
Michelle Ikhbayar is 17. The college student from Nottingham also didn’t know the McDonald’s on Exchange Walk was closing down. She said: “I come here fairly often, especially with friends or we go to the one on Clumber Street.
“I think that a lot of people are going to be shocked and upset when it closes.”
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