The Connswater Shopping Centre in Belfast will close on March 21 after 20 years, leaving shoppers and politicians disappointed.
The center has struggled after losing major stores. Shoppers shared their sadness online about it. One person said it was more than just shops. Another can’t believe Connswater is closing. Someone else is disappointed by the center’s decline. They feel there was no effort to find new stores and said East Belfast politicians don’t care about it.
BDO NI is managing the closure. Michael Jennings said they assessed the center’s viability and unfortunately had to give notice. The center was important to the East Belfast community. BDO will help tenants during this transition and explore options for selling the property. The shopping center said the retail market changed, and anchor stores left, creating tough conditions.
The center appointed BDO as receivers. They thank loyal customers, tenants, and staff and appreciate the community spirit of 20 years. They understand the news will disappoint many people. The center was part of East Belfast’s community fabric, and they regret this difficult decision very much. The retail park, Lidl, and The Range will stay open. CBRE NI manages the Connswater Shopping Centre.
Politicians have expressed disappointment in response. Gavin Robinson is the DUP leader and East Belfast MP. He feels for the staff facing job losses currently and said the closure is a sad day for East Belfast. The loss of the center will be deeply felt across Belfast. Robinson will help anyone impacted during this time. He said politicians will talk with the owners soon and want the site to benefit local people still.