Bury Card Shop Closes Following Relocation from Market Hall Due to Unsafe Concrete

Mikesh Varma, a trader whose card shop was compelled to move from a town’s well-known indoor market due to the discovery of unsafe concrete, has stated that this relocation led to his business’s closure. Mr. Varma operated the Days to Remember gift shop within Bury’s Market Hall from 2015 until he and other vendors were instructed by the local council to vacate the premises last year, following the detection of crumbling concrete in the roof. He reported a “quite dramatically” decline in trade after reopening at the nearby Mill Gate shopping centre, resulting in a loss of £100,000 in profit and business value. Mr. Varma remarked that upon his departure from the market hall in October 2023, “that was it, you’ve basically lost your job, your USP [unique selling point] as a market trader”. Bury Council provided assistance to traders with relocation efforts after surveyors identified RAAC concrete in the roof of the structure, built in 1969. Additionally, businesses received financial aid, such as periods free of rent and utility bills, to support their transition. Consultants have been commissioned to prepare cost estimates for various proposals, including the rebuilding of the site, which a report projected would exceed £6m. Some individuals have expressed dissatisfaction with the council’s perceived inaction regarding the building’s restoration, 12 months after its emergency closure. However, Councillor Charlotte Morris stated that a “quick fix” was not feasible and that all potential solutions for the market hall would be examined “in depth”. She explained that the roof situation proved “more complicated than originally thought,” but affirmed the council’s commitment that “Bury Market will thrive for many generations to come.” She added, “We all love our historic and hugely popular market.” Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Mr. Varma disclosed that his business ceased operations for seven weeks prior to its relocation to the Mill Gate shopping centre. He characterized the new premises as his business’s “final resting place” following a 70% reduction in trade. He stated, “As soon as you move away from the market, you’re losing your family,” adding, “It’s not just a financial loss, you’re losing people’s conversations, you’re stuck, you’re all alone, you’re no longer anything to do with the market.” The shop owner confirmed his decision to close his business on Saturday, marking one year since his forced relocation. He remarked, “I’ve been told to clear out stock and put it into storage – and now I have to find a new job.” He further noted the varied challenges faced by other traders, stating, “Everyone has different circumstances, some traders had taken loans out for businesses inside that they’re paying off while earning probably 50% less.” He concluded, “It’s a tough situation.”