Published:
5:00 PM May 3, 2021
“McDonald’s Closes Town Centre Location” was the headline that apparently came as a shock to Lowestoft’s business leaders.
- Credit: Mick Howes
“McDonald’s Closes Town Centre Location” was the headline (EDP April 24) that apparently came as a shock to Lowestoft’s business leaders.
This move of the restaurant’s operations from the town centre to Kirkley Rise in line with the soon to be third crossing came as little surprise to those people in the town who were interested.
It was also announced on September 19, 2019, that the new “McDonald’s restaurant on Kirkley Rise will create ‘at least 65 jobs (now 55) and bring significant investment to the area”.
I think its an opportunity to reinvigorate the whole of that Station Quarter to create a very attractive area.
A CGI image produced for the Lowestoft Masterplan for what the Station Quarter area could look like.
- Credit: East Suffolk Council
A McDonald’s spokesman said: “We are sorry to hear that the closure of our London Road North restaurant may have caused some disappointment with our customers.
The McDonald’s relocation notice greeting people at the former restaurant in Lowestoft town centre. Picture: Mick Howes
- Credit: Mick Howes The decision to close the restaurant was not taken lightly.
I think its an opportunity to reinvigorate the whole of that Station Quarter to create a very attractive area.
A CGI image produced for the Lowestoft Masterplan for what the Station Quarter area could look like.
- Credit: East Suffolk Council
A McDonald’s spokesman said: “We are sorry to hear that the closure of our London Road North restaurant may have caused some disappointment with our customers.
The McDonald’s relocation notice greeting people at the former restaurant in Lowestoft town centre. Picture: Mick Howes
- Credit: Mick Howes The decision to close the restaurant was not taken lightly.
McDonald s Lowestoft town centre closure a huge blow | East Anglian Daily Times eadt.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from eadt.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
This showed that there were 87 properties standing vacant across the town centre and historic high street areas, equating to a vacancy rate of 20.57pc and 17,599sq m in floorspace.
Among these are the former Argos store, next door to the now closed McDonald s, which shut in July 2016 and has remained empty since.
Further up London Road North, Lowestoft s post office closed in September 2016 and moved into W H Smith nearby, but the iconic building has been empty for more than four-and-a-half years.
The former Tesco Metro building at 119 to 125 London Road North, closed in September 2019 after decades serving the community. It remains empty and plans for it to be redeveloped for residential use were scrapped this week.