The Alhambra Centre has gone bust

... if this story is to be believed.

I hope the council buy it.

https://www.thestar.co.uk/business/...-alhambra-collapses-into-receivership-3460961

 

They already own the freehold so the council are the landlords

 

Just asked my missis... She said it's not worth saving.. Next, Clare's TK Max all gone.. and Bon Marche as gone under and is closing down.. according to the expert..

 

TK Maxx and Next are moving into the new Glassworks

 

They’ve been in the Glassworks since it opened

 

Yeah.. she said that, so why would they keep the Alambra open when it's them (the council)
that encouraged everyone to move..

 

...so they could get control?

 

It's a bag of ***** tbf. One of the worst shopping centres in the country. Absolutely bog all in there other than primark, tk maxx and next

Hope it's replaced with something worthwhile

 

I heard they were going to sell 80% of it to some penniless charlatans who were going to let it fall to bits before moving all the shops out of it to the Ridings Centre in Wakefield.
Then a load of foreign shops with no English shopping experience are going to come in and sell weird sausages and billowing white robes and suspicious headgear for ladies.
Then it will merge with Meadowhall in a deal organised by Conservative MPs and be connected via an underground HS2 rail network funded by Russian Oligarchs.

 

There is still a role to play for the Alhambra. Just wish more shops would be introduced, and stop being bogging off to Meadowhall.

Maybe this is snobbish of me too, but move all the charity shops on to Market Street?

 

It needs to be filled with independent shops selling locally produced products of all varieties. Rename the place and make it into a modern arcade. But ensure business rates are removed for 12-18 months. Give folk a chance to build businesses which will be there long term.
Like independent beer taps we need to move away from the same old mass produced rubbish the multi nationals knock out.

 

... and amongst those independent shops, they need to create a co-operative to have all their products list online so people can purchase online should they wish and have same day delivery with a company like Barnsley Eats (like Just Eat but not for food).

 

Huddersfield Kingsgate has something similar to your idea I think:

https://kingsgateshoppingcentre.co.uk/shop/independent-quarter/

 

That is good and a start. The people in town (well, the independents) need to realise the competition isn't the bloke across the road selling the same thing, it's Amazon.

 

Isn't the alhambra still owned by the coop......I know it was when it was originally built....just like most of the market and car park all that belonged to Norwich Union
bsly Council collected fees on their behalf ....its surprising who owns what in bsly.....the town centre got divided up in the 60s...Donny gate...just a speck of dust in the universe compared to what went off previously in barnsley.....so the story goes.....
Before meadowhall was built it was offered to barnsley mbc those in charge warmed to the idea....but both the coop and Norwich Union threatened to pull out of the town centre and turn it into a ghost town ....the threat was so real Barnsley council had no option but to turn it down otherwise it would have been built at Dodworth.....one of the reasons I believe Paul Sykes hates the council with a passion

 

100% Agree and take it further. If the council take ownership of this and turn it into smaller units for startup shops especially local produce etc.

Treat it as an enterprise hub where small businesses can make the step up from say a market trader to this area, reducing the risk of taking on a unit in the Glassworks.

It would be nice if council owned as well if some space could be set aside for offices and allow functions like trading standards, citizens advice, credit union and other good community causes to have these rent free. They offer a great deal to the community and having these under one roof would make it easy for people to access help / advice.

 

It’s been going downhill since it was sold by The Mall in 2011. They current owners did try and improve the place, and had plans for a leisure extension, but The Glassworks has effectively stopped them getting any decent tenants in now.

It won’t just suddenly close, but I can’t imagine any investment company will be willing to pay much for it.

 

Level it. It's an absolute eyesore. Council should offer the current tenants another empty unit elsewhere in town and turn the crater into green space.

 

I did actually feel the cinema on top of the Alhambra was a better plan than what we went with but it didn't happen, what's been done will work.

 

Should build it into loads of bars and restaurants