'It's the end of an era' - Traders and shoppers react to closure of Grimsby's Top Town Market after nearly 50 years
Traders packing up their stock, empty units and emotional shoppers are three guaranteed sights on Grimsby's Top Town Market today.
Nearly 50 years after it first opened, the market will be closing for the very last time ahead of its demolition as part of the Freshney Place leisure scheme to make way for a new cinema and leisure unit.
The market will relocate to the One Beyond store at the Riverhead Square entrance of Freshney Place in April, with around ten traders selected to set up shop at the temporary premises. Others will be closing altogether.
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We headed down to Top Town Market on the last ever weekday of trading to speak to traders and shoppers about the closure.
'End of an era' for shoppers
Shoppers on Top Town Market were full of sadness a day ahead of the closure. One shopper, Judy, told Grimsby Live: "It's really sad, it's people's livelihoods. It's the end of an era. I come on the market every week. I know a man and a big part of his week is coming on here."
"I think it's all been a bit higgledy-piggledy. I come on the market two or three times a week so it's going to be a big change because a lot of the stalls are going altogether. It's quite sad because I've been coming for so many years," said another shopper, Joyce.
'There's nowhere else like the market - it's a proper community'
Kathy Lowdon has run K&P Collectibles on Top Town Market for ten years, and is currently packing up her stock to put into storage for several weeks ahead of the move. She has been gifted flowers and chocolates by her loyal customers - some of whom have been getting emotional about the market's closure.
She told Grimsby Live: "This whole thing would've been a lot easier if the former BHS shop would have been made ready for us to move straight into. With the amount of stock I've got, it's been a nightmare. For the time being, it's got to go in storage in my house and my family member's garage for the three months until we move. It all could've gone a lot more smoothly.
"I've been here for ten years and the customers have become my friends. It's sad because there's nowhere else like the market - it's a proper community. Yesterday a woman came with her son and she'd travelled all the way from Newcastle. She said she used to live in Grimsby and all her memories were here, and she wanted to come and see the market for one last time. Some of my customers have been welling up in tears because a lot of them come on here every day."
Fishmonger's running for 30+ years set to close
Fred's Fisheries has been on Top Town Market for more than 30 years, and will be closing for the final time on Saturday in line with the market's final day of trading.
Staff member Sue said: "I've been here 30 odd years on and off and I'll miss the customers so much. They all come on here and have a chin wag and then go about their day. This is a hub for people to meet, talk and have something to eat.
"I'm looking for another job now - it's just been so nice to be on here and talk to customers."
Trader moving to Freeman Street Market
Mark Troughton of Marks, Get Specs, Go! has been on Grimsby's Top Town Market for two-and-a-half years. He said he received an email from North East Lincolnshire Council on Wednesday, January 22 to inform him that he will not be offered a space in the new, temporary premises - a decision based on "several factors".
However, he will instead be setting up shop on Freeman Street Market.
He said: "People are going to miss the cafés because often that's the only reason they come to the market. It's a social thing and it gets them out of bed in the morning, but that's gone now. Some traders are moving to the One Beyond store, but the cafés won't be going with them. What baffles me is that across from One Beyond, there's a vacant unit, so I can't understand why at least one of them isn't going in there. At least it fills it - some rent is better than nothing.
"I had an email from the Council last Wednesday so I haven't had much time to get everything sorted. But I put feelers out because I needed a Plan B and Freeman Street Market said they'd love to have me there. I've got 600 customers on my books and most have said they're going to come with me, so I feel fine. I just feel sorry for the people that have to close altogether."
'Hopefully the new market will be just as good as this one'
Sharon Ewing took over the running of Cards and Party Box three years ago, after the business had been on Top Town Market for more than 20 years. The stall will be moving to the temporary premises at One Beyond.
She said: "It's sad for all the customers. A lot of people come on here just to speak to people and it's been here so long so it is sad - but hopefully the new one will be just as good and we'll still get all those customers back, with the same community feel as we've got here. We only just found out recently whether we're moving to the new premises, so it's not a lot of time to get our stock together and have to move it all."
'Good news' for vintage clothing stall
Debbie Green, who set up vintage clothing stall Temple Ranch Clothing on Top Town Market in October, is another one of the traders moving to the new, temporary premises. She said she is "absolutely thrilled" she was one of the traders selected to move.
She said: "I've had some good news - I'll be moving to One Beyond so I'm absolutely thrilled. I've had an amazing experience on the market and it's a brand new business which is never easy to start, but I've been made to feel really welcome. I love everybody on here. I feel positive about the move and I'll make the most of my new home - I'm just trying to offer something a little bit different for the people of Grimsby, and with new businesses, you have to give it your all wherever you are."
North East Lincolnshire Council statement
"Top Town Market will close at the start of February to be decommissioned and asbestos removed ahead of the start of the demolition to comply with Government funding deadlines," a council spokesperson has told Grimsby Live. "One Beyond was served notice at the start of 2025, and have three months to vacate the unit as per their lease agreement."
On why the market is not being put in a vacant unit, the spokesperson said: "Freshney Place has very few empty units with a current occupancy rate of 96.5 per cent paying commercial rates. There are moves around the centre happening at the moment, with tenants committing to different spaces.
"The council has access to a single unit for our purposes, that we can sub-let to market traders at their existing market rates. The market needs to be in a single location, and the unit next to Riverhead was deemed the most appropriate for the volume of market traders that would be transferring to the temporary market."
"The council is talking separately with the stand holders and cafés about other suitable spaces in the town centre, which can accommodate their needs."