A supermarket in Cadishead that was scheduled to open in November last year has been left empty for months, with locals using the car park for football and free parking. The Asda Express branch, located at the corner of Penry Avenue and Liverpool Street, was expected to be a 4,000 square-foot convenience store with 13 parking spaces.
Residents have noted that the building and car park were completed quickly, but final works mysteriously halted. Dead flies and butterflies have accumulated in the window display of the otherwise empty shop.
Residents Puzzled by Abandoned Site
Locals have expressed confusion over the delayed opening. Neil, a 50-year-old resident who parked on the completed car park to drop off unwanted goods at a nearby charity shop, said: "It's strange, the building and car park went up really quickly. I think they were even advertising some jobs – and then it all just stopped and we've not heard anything since. We were looking forward to it because we've not got much in the way of supermarkets on this end."
Another local resident quipped: "Is that new 'Asda' just a car park?" Some residents have expressed concerns that the empty shop might attract anti-social behaviour, noting that troublemakers had "graffitied it before it was even open."
Asda Spokesperson Responds
An Asda spokesperson did not respond when asked what had caused the nine-month delay, but said the branch was making "good progress." The spokesperson added: "We're making good progress with our Cadishead Express store and will let the local community know as soon as we have an update to share. In the meantime, customers can find Asda's outstanding value at our nearby Eccles Supermarket, Trafford Park Superstore and Astley Express store."
The grocery chain recently closed its Hale Barns store in Altrincham earlier this month, after reviewing whether it "met customer needs and remained commercially sustainable." The business has reportedly seen an eight-month dip in revenue and proposed job cuts at its head offices in Leeds, pointing to a £1bn "tech overhaul" as the reason, with new chairman Allan Leighton confident he can turn things around.
