Sadness as Sainsbury's closes for final time after over 30 years in Courthouse GreenStaff have been left saddened at the closure of a popular supermarket in Coventry. Sainsbury's in Courthouse Green will shut for the final time today (Friday, February 17).
Employees gathered outside the supermarket to mark the final day. Shelves have been emptied as they prepare for the permanent closure of the store at 8pm.
Shoppers said they were sad to hear of the closure of the supermarket which has served the local community since 1989. A large number said they have shopped at the store for decades and will be "disappointed" to see it close for good.
Karen Proctor, 59, who coincidentally is celebrating 29 years of working at the store today, said that she will be taking an early retirement following the closure. She told CoventryLive: “It is a bit sad. I am going to retire now and do voluntary work for charity, but not yet. I am going to have some time out first.”
Customers shared their disappointment over the closure with many having shopped at the supermarket for years. Kashmir Dhesi, 57, said: “It was a good store for the locals. I have been shopping here since it opened.
“I used to live nearby but I moved to Keresley over 20 years ago and I still come here. It is really convenient for parking as well and the location is really good, near Jimmy Hill Way, so people can get to it quite easily. It is disappointing and I feel sorry for the staff.”
June Smith, 67, said: “I will miss it. It was handy to be here and I feel sorry for the staff. I have lived around here for 40-odd years now and always come here.”
Pat, 75, who lives in Coventry, added: “I am not happy. It is a small shop and not huge like Tesco and Asda, they are great big places and you have to walk from one end to the other to get something.
“Whereas this one, because I have been coming here for years, I know where everything is. The staff are all so friendly here. They all know me, they are like family in a way.
"I get my petrol here as well so now I am going to have to go to the Tesco near the hospital if I want to go and get petrol. I am very disappointed because I have now got to go somewhere else to shop when I have shopped here for 25 years.”