Traders at Concord Market in Sedgley to say final goodbye to customers after 48 years
Traders at Sedgley's Concord market are getting ready to serve their final customers as it prepares to close after almost half a century
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Concord Market on Dudley Street in the centre of Sedgley will shut tomorrow (Saturday, January 11).
Traders announced in December last year that after 48 years, the market would say a final 'farewell' to customers.
No special plans have been made for the final day by the traders who previously expressed 'great sadness' at the closure while saying that it was "due to a number of factors" - with no further details.
Posting to Facebook, Concord Market bosses said there were a number of reasons for its closure, though it is unclear what these exactly are.
The post read: "It is with great sadness that we have to announce the closure of Sedgley Concord Market on January 11, 2025 due to a number of factors.
"We would like to thank all traders and customers over the last 48 years of trading in the market. We wish all of our tenants the best for the future."
Concord Market dates back to 1976 and has a card shop, bakery, bookstores, clothes shops and a butcher.
Jessie Southan, who runs Butterflies Cards and Gift shack spoke to the Express & Star in December last year about her upset at the news of its closure.
She said: “I am really sad because we built up good business, got to know all our customers. It’s been great, I loved the market, it's just very sad.
“I have been running this stall for 10 years although I have worked at the market since I was 13 and I just love all the atmosphere, the people coming in, the chatting, lots of characters, it's lovely.
“I will try my hardest to stay in Sedgley and open elsewhere and hopefully the customers will follow but it will be a shame to leave here as we have a loyal customer base as all the shops do."
Shopper Darren Flavell, who has been visiting the market for several years, commented that "half the stalls" were empty.
Speaking shortly after the news of the market's closure was announced, he said: "Years ago every stall was taken but now over the last few years it got less and less to the point where it probably needs more stalls to open."
Fellow customer Geoff Beddard, who visits the market several times a week, added he had seen the number of stores "dwindle" over the years.
