The Chuckling Cheese Company has announced that its Middlesbrough store will close due to a 'significant loss of footfall'.
The family-run artizan cheese business was established in 2015, with the Middesbrough store opening in the Hill Street Shopping Centre in 2018. It sold a “wide range of cheese as well as a vast selection of artisan alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, chutneys, sweet treats” - and even wedding cakes.
At the time of opening, the store was the Skegness-based firm’s third in the UK. Now it has been confirmed the Middlesbrough store - along with the Doncaster store - will close on April 12.
A statement said: "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of our Middlesbrough & Doncaster Stores. After careful consideration, we have decided to close our doors due to a significant loss of footfall within both centres, alongside rising costs.
"Both stores will be open until 12th April 2025. We would like to thank all of our customers for their support over the previous years."
People reacted with sadness to the news, with comments saying: "Aw no, I loved the cheese from here." One person said: "Sad to see this. Many happy memories of working in the Boro store. My love to the staff affected."
Responding to comments on Facebook, The Chuckling Cheese Company added: "We sadly have seen a big drop in footfall in Middlesbrough since M&S left a few years ago."
The firm added that the online shop is still available, along with MetroCentre and Skegness stores.
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