City centre food market closes its doors for good after three years

A city centre food market has closed its doors for good just over three years after it opened. The Metquarter confirmed in a statement to the ECHO this afternoon (Monday) that the GPO Food Market and Bar has closed inside the shopping centre.

A spokesperson for the Metquarter said despite its efforts the "business has not performed to the level expected" and it has now closed. The GPO Food Market and Bar opened in the Metquarter in June 2021 offering international food and drink stalls from independent traders.

Located on the site of the old General Post Office, the stalls included Jailbird Nashville Fried Chicken, Thai 25 and SK Little India all housed in the street-food style venue which was described as offering "eight global kitchens, a café and a bar all under one roof".

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However, a post on the Instagram page of fellow Metquarter business Transalpino yesterday (Sunday) said GPO was "another victim of a steadily decreasing high street" and claimed it had been "closed with immediate effect”. When the ECHO visited the shopping centre on Sunday afternoon, the food hall was closed despite its opening hours being listed as 12-6.30pm on Sundays.

Signs were still up outside advertising bookings for Christmas parties but the GPO’s website and social media pages have all disappeared online. The Metquarter has now confirmed GPO has closed and discussions are already underway for other potential operators to move into the space.

In a statement sent to the ECHO, the shopping centre said: “Despite our best efforts to support GPO, the business has not performed to the level expected. There are a combination of reasons for this. We still see Metquarter as a significant leisure and food destination within the city centre. Combined with other available units within the building we can create an even larger offer going forward.

"We believe that this location is perfect for ambitious operators who want to deliver quality restaurant and leisure concepts and several discussions are already underway.”

Some staff working in other shops throughout the shopping centre claimed the site closed last week. One staff member at Fairytale Endings, who asked not to be named, told the ECHO: “It closed last Friday. I have no idea why though." Another worker at Say It With Diamonds added: “It closed last week. It’s strange. It seemed popular.”

A third staff member who works at Cricket said: “It closed on Thursday. It’s surprising to see.” Others had no idea that the shop was closed today. One woman working at MQ Flowers said: “Really? I had no idea. I’ve just sent two people there. They were looking for Little India. They’re probably really confused now. That’s a big shock.”

Meanwhile a staff member at The Art Quarter said: “I didn't know it had been closed. I’m shocked. That’s a real shame isn’t it? Hopefully something replaces it.”

One customer who visited the GPO recently told the ECHO: "I went to the GPO on Saturday night a few weeks ago and it was absolutely dead. There was a hen party that came at about 8pm and I felt a bit sorry for them that it wasn't matching their energy."