GREGGS decision to pull down the shutters on its first ever outlet in Northern Ireland is linked to its lease, and not the performance of the business, The Irish News understands.
The sausage roll specialist is due to permanently close its store on Belfast’s Royal Avenue on October 22.
The outlet, located opposite CastleCourt, was Greggs’ first ever in the north when it opened in May 2016.
The hot food chain now has 17 outlets across Northern Ireland.
Greggs closed its stores in Omagh, Larne, Ballymena and Newry in response to the impact of Covid-19.
But it’s understood the closure of the Royal Avenue unit is linked to the lease on the premises coming to an end.
Greggs said all its staff will be moved to other stores.
It’s understood the food-to-go group will examine a potential replacement unit in the area.
The food chain has seven other units in Belfast, including one in nearby Castle Lane.
Confirmation of the closure comes just months after the neighbouring Schuh store vacated its premises on Royal Avenue. The show store later opened in CastleCourt in May this year.
The closure of Greggs’ Royal Avenue store, just weeks after Ulster University reopened its new York Street campus, has been met with surprise.
Footfall has surged in the area, with thousands of students moving into recently constructed accommodation units.
Starbucks is among the companies to captialise on the new student population, opening a new groundfloor outlet in the former Debenhams unit at CastleCourt in the past three weeks.
