Almost five years after opening a store and cafe in Liverpool city centre to showcase and sell the work of local artists and artisans, MerseyMade says the outlet is to close. Tony McDonough reports
MerseyMade is to close its store and cafe in Liverpool city centre after almost five years of trading – but its Wirral outlet will remain open.
In a social media post on Monday co-founder Vicky Gawith, speaking on behalf of the team, said the outlet at the Grade II-listed Chancery House in Paradise Street would close at the end of May. She blamed “unsustainable costs” for the decision.
She added that the business would look for new premises in Liverpool city centre and confirmed the shop in West Kirby in Wirral, which opened in 2023, was unaffected and would continue to trade as normal.
Established by Vicky Gawith and Jenny Dunlop in 2019, MerseyMade created a shop, cafe, artists’ studios and space for events. It includes work by bakers, crafters, illustrators, painters and jewellers who are located within 50 miles of its postcode.
In the post on Linked In, Vicky said: “We have some important news to share – and although it makes us a little sad, we are making this change for all the right reasons.
“We wanted to let you know that at the end of May we will be closing the doors to our flagship Liverpool shop.
“This is by no means goodbye though. Our MerseyMade West Kirby shop is unaffected and will remain open and we are on the look-out for a new Liverpool home – we just haven’t found the right space yet.
“It’s been a tough decision to leave this space as we love it on Paradise Street, but the rising and unsustainable costs of running our existing Liverpool shop and cafe have forced us to make the very difficult decision not to renew our contract here.
“It’s been a very full-on (almost) five years since our launch and of course none of it is possible without the continued support of our amazing customers and creatives.
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“So although it is with a heavy heart that we leave our first home, we also look back with immense pride on what we have achieved here in Liverpool.”
She added that customers will “hopefully see us again around Liverpool before too long”.