A POPULAR town centre coffee shop that was facing closure will remain in place after customers came out in force to save it.

Hundreds of visitors to the Rhode Island Coffee shop in Knowsley Street signed a petition and wrote letters asking bosses not to shut up shop because of financial difficulties.

The company had considered closing the unit down because of problems stemming from a lack of footfall and too much competition in the town centre.

But they have had a re-think after the outpouring of support for the shop and its staff from regular customers who were desperate to see it stay open.

Now, after successful negotiations with its landlord, Rhode Island — which also operates sites in Blackburn, Burnley, Warrington, Stockport and Altrincham — has secured its Bolton future for at least the next 12 months.

Area manager David Howarth said the firm is desperate to stay in the town, but needs customers to now put their money where their mouth is if its long-term future is to be secured.

He said: “We love Bolton and we have been here for a long time, but we had to look at other options because the store wasn’t making a return.

“But the response from the public has been amazing and we have listened to what they have said and thanks to our landlord we are here for at least another year.

“So we have got one more shot now and we need people to come and support us and help us get back to our former glory.”

He added: “Rhode Island is all about the community, we pride ourselves on our customer service and we want to be able to continue that in Bolton.”

Bolton store manager John Langstreth, aged 26, said: “I have been here for four years and I love it. I love our customers.

“It looked like we would be closing but the response from people seems to have changed things.

“All the staff are really moved by what people have said about us and we are really pleased that we are staying.”