Bolton: 10 businesses in that closed or moved in 2022

We have rounded up 10 businesses that closed or moved premises in 2022.

1. Café Vienna

The popular café in Deane closed in May as the owners prepared to retire so they could spend time with their family in Wiltshire.

Husband and wife Margaret, 67, and Gregory Wood, 68, owned the business for 39 years.

The cafe has been a popular spot for families across Deane for generations.

• ALSO READ: Popular Bolton cafe to close as owners look forward to the future

Margaret and Gregory say goodbye to loyal customers and staff as they sell their café to retire

2. Candy and Cards, Ashburner Street

The shop that served generations of people for almost 40 years, providing the town centre with greeting cards and confectionary.

The shop building is now due to be demolished to make way for a new development.

• ALSO READ: End of an era as Bolton shop closes after almost 40 years trading

Owned for generations: L-R Mav Halai and his parents, Manji Halai and Meghbai Halai, the generations of owners of the store

3.Grandad Jim's Traditional Sweet Shoppe

The vintage sweet shop bid farewell to Horwich in September following a downturn in business, after opening its doors three years ago.

The Horwich store unfortunately failed to recover from the effects of the pandemic and suffered from a lack of footfall since.

• ALSO READ: 'Please shop local': Sweet shop's message after closing due to 'lack of footfall'

Owners Andy and Kat Dickinson at Grandad Jim’s Traditional Sweet Shoppe, Horwich, before it opened in 2019 (Image: Newsquest)

4. Heron Foods

The long-established Bolton town centre convenience store Heron Foods, closed for good in January.

Store manager Stephen Bailey - who worked at Heron Foods for five years, and at the Newport Street store for seven months - said the announcement came as a shock.

Mr Bailey said that two members of staff were made redundant, whilst the rest were asked to relocate to another store.

• ALSO READ: Sadness as long established Bolton town centre store announces sudden closure

From left to right: Store manager, Stephen Bailey, and supervisor Sonia Blackburn

5. Argos

It was revealed earlier this year that Argos on Bridge Street would close by the end of the year.

At the time the retail store said that staff would be offered roles at Sainsburys, of which Argos is a part.

• ALSO READ: Big name Bolton town centre store to shut leaving shoppers upset

6. Rigby’s Chippy

A much-loved chippy will close soon after 40 years in business once they find a buyer.

The well-loved eatery received national attention after appearing on the BBC.

Owner Margaret Rigby made the decision due to ill health.

• ALSO READ: End of an era as Bolton chippy made famous on TV closes after 40 years

Margaret Rigby, 80, is selling her chippy after 40 years (Image: Newsquest)

7. Oops! Clearance food store

The retail business, which launched during the pandemic in 2020 closed nine stores, including the one in Bolton at Central Retail Park.

It came as a result of the increase of costs.

The shop offered knockdown prices for hundreds of food items after the parent company, KPFF Ltd, bought clearance goods from hundreds of large manufacturing sites and repackaged them at its base in Liverpool.

• ALSO READ: OOPS! Clearance opens at Central Retail Park, Bolton

Staff and penguin mascots outside the shop on the opening day (Image: Public)

8. Allen’s Bakery

Greg Coop took over Allen's in Breightmet in 2006 but opted to close and retire this year due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Since he opened the shop, he has got up at 3am on most days to prepare the bread and open up to customers.

Mr Coop explained how he rode out the financial crash of 2008, Covid, but felt he could no longer keep going with rising costs and more competition elsewhere.

• ALSO READ: Bakery which was 'part of the community ' closes as baker retires

Greg Coop with the staff at Allen's Bakery on the final day of business

9. Decathlon

The major sports and outdoor essentials store closed its store in the town centre to move to the Middlebrook Retail Park.

It is hoped that by moving to a new location that it will help them with mission to make sport more accessible in the UK.

• ALSO READ: Major high street store to pull out of Bolton Town Centre

10. Warren James

Warren James moved out of Crompton Place Shopping centre into the Market Place Shopping Centre, where it now joins Beaverbrooks, Ernest Jones, Carters Jewellery, H Samuel and Pandora, making Market Place a real gem for anyone looking for great jewellery.

Crompton Place is earmarked for demolition as part of the town centre master plan.

The multi-million-pound redevelopment of Crompton Place Shopping Centre will not start until 2024 at the earliest, the council has said, as negotiations continue to relocate the remaining business.

• ALSO READ: Another town centre business moves out of Crompton Place ahead of redevelopment

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.