It’s been announced our Sainsbury’s Local in Ruddington will shut early next year.
The shock news comes at a difficult time for many retailers due to the COVID-19 outbreak but, in fact, it appeared villagers were making very good use of our Dutton’s Hill convenience store during ‘lockdown’ – with more of us switching to shopping locally because of the pandemic.
However, a Sainsbury’s spokesperson has confirmed to RUDDINGTON.info: “Our Wilford Road Local will be closing in February 2021 and colleagues will have the opportunity to redeploy to other roles in the area. We understand this will be an unsettling time for those affected and we’re supporting them in any way we can.”
The closure is despite Sainsbury’s still having another five and a half years to run on the lease of the former ‘Grices of Ruddington’ shop at 12-14 Wilford Road. Having been signed over to the supermarket giant in 2010, these historic premises were then sold off by owners Steven and Helen Grice just three years’ ago. This was soon after their relocated electrical store ceased trading in West Bridgford, in November 2016, having gone into voluntary liquidation.
When asked the reason for this forthcoming closure, Sainsbury’s responded: “We regularly review our estate and this is based on a range of factors. Last September we announced we would close 30-40 convenience stores.” Evidently Ruddington was on their list!
There’s speculation the restricted parking at Dutton’s Hill may be partly to blame for the unexpected departure, whilst increased online shopping and the new Lidl in Clifton and Aldi in Edwalton won’t have helped the situation. Also the opening of a brand new ‘Sainsbury’s on the Go’ at Ruddington Service Station in July might have been an early indication that the Wilford Road store was doomed.
At least for villagers who’ve got used to shopping at Sainsbury’s there’ll still be option of its Loughborough Road outlet instead. Alternatively, Ruddingtonians will continue to be well served in the village centre by the recently refurbished Co-Op Supermarket and the many other independent, local shops we’re so lucky to have right here on our doorstep.
As to what will happen next at Reuben Grice’s famous old premises, only time will tell…
