Workers move in to strip out Tesco Metro store that will leave large unit empty in Northampton town centre

The Tesco Metro on Abington Street closed on Wednesday (February 3) as part of a downsizing move for the company - and it leaves another High Street unit in the town centre empty.

The supermarket firm has opened a smaller Tesco Express store in Abington Street, but the bigger Metro shop will leave a big gap in one of Northampton's busiest retail areas.

Tesco Metro will join several other large Northampton town centre units currently standing empty, including BHS, Marks & Spencer, Caffe Nero, and McDonald's in the Grosvenor Centre.

Workmen are currently clearing out the Tesco Metro site, and there is no confirmation yet as to whether any store is set to move in.

Tesco Metro opened in Abington Street on Monday, April 4, 2011, on the site of the former Woolworths store, and created 80 jobs.

The address for the new Tesco Express is 13-15 Abington Street, which was formerly River Island, before the fashion retailer also shut up shop and relocated to the Grosvenor Centre.

And just last week, McDonald's decided to close its doors in the Grosvenor Centre.

James Roberts, centre manager at Grosvenor Shopping Northampton, said: “McDonald’s has unfortunately made the difficult decision to close its restaurant with us at the centre. This is

disappointing news and we wish them the best of luck in the future.

"The store has done a fantastic job in feeding hungry tummies for many years and we will be sad to see the restaurant go.”

Fortunately, employees at the McDonald's were offered the chance to work at another one of the fast-food chain's sites.

And more retail jobs in the town centre look set to disappear after online fashion chain ASOS bought Topshop and Topman from Sir Philip Green's Arcadia Group.

The Topshop and Topman buyout came after Sir Philip Green's retail empire collapsed in November. It is now expected that 70 UK shops, including the Topshop and Topshop sites in Northampton's Grosvenor Centre, will close permanently.