Beloved cake shop to close doors after 8 years as devastated owner says it’s with a ‘heavy heart’
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A POPULAR coffee shop is set to close its doors after eight years, with its devastated owner saying it’s “time to let go”.
It comes as dozens of other major bakery chains have shut up shop following Covid, with the cost of living resulting in less people eating out.
GettyAmore Coffee and Desserts, in Bolton, is closing its doors after 8 years[/caption]
Amore Coffee and Desserts, in Bolton, first opened its doors in March 2017 and quickly became a popular spot for locals because of its selection of coffees, sandwiches, breakfast and cakes.
It also served up waffles, cookie dough, milkshakes and ice cream sundaes in a variety of flavours, using ingredients from local suppliers and businesses.
But now the owner of the shop, Rachel Mort, says she can no longer keep going, citing the store brings her “stress, worry, entrapment and no room for…personal growth”.
The shop, situated on the A6 in Westhoughton, in Greater Manchester, has regularly hosted a series of pop-ups raising money for local charities, as well as events and workshops, including Halloween parties for children and guided meditation sessions.
Rachel said because of this, she has been “wrestling” with the decision to close the cade.
Writing on social media, Rcahel said: “The truth is it’s time for me to let go”.
She explained: “Whilst the shop has brought so many beautiful people into my life, and has created so many amazing connections, it has also had the opposite effect, it brings stress, worry, entrapment and no room for my own personal growth. Light and dark in all areas.”
The shop is set to close for good on March 28 at 4pm.
Rachel’s post added: “I really do hope to see as many of you as I can before we close, because please believe me when I say that the hardest part of this decision was knowing that I won’t see so many of you beautiful people regularly, whether you drop in daily, weekly or just every now and then, my attachment to my customers has been the thing I have struggled with letting go of the most.”
Though the coffee shop is closing, Rachel said she has other plans for the site which she will be announcing soon.
“So for now I want to send my heartfelt gratitude to every single customer who has ever visited the shop, this place couldn’t be what it is without your love and support.”
Why are retailers closing stores?
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024.
End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker.
It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date.
This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023.
It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns.
The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker.
Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations.
Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes.
Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
Fans of the coffee shop have been flooding Rachel with support, with one saying: “I’m so sorry to hear this news, but I’m happy for you that you’re going to be following your heart in your new career. I’m sure you’ll smash it!!!
“Amore has been an important part of my life since I retired. So relaxed, friendly and comfortable.”
Another wrote: “Oh Rachel, sorry to hear this … but happy for you. We have been loving our regular visits to you and the way you are.
Your pie, peas and beetroot special has become a staple with me.
We will definitely see you before you close and wish you well.”
While a third wrote: “Sorry to hear this, Rachel and her staff made this place an amazing little hub of the community.”
This comes as another major bakery chain suddenly closed another store, after shutting 170 branches across the country.
Patisserie Valerie, in Maidstone, Kent, famed for its luxurious cakes, pastries and coffee, thanked locals for their support in its closure announcement last month.
Many food and drink chains have been struggling recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.
Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns announced it would be shutting down 43 of its stores this year.
GettyMany coffee shops and restaurants have been forced to shut after Covid[/caption]
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