Dozens of independent traders based at an indoor market at The Forge shopping centre have been closed until further notice after their landlord reportedly went into administration.
Market Village at the Parkhead centre is home to over 35 independent retailers including beauty salons, food vendors, and other small businesses. Business owners were told around 5pm on Monday that their landlord had gone into liquidation and that the indoor market would cease operating.
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Market Village is owned by Geraud UK Ltd - a private operator of local authority markets. According to its website, the firm operates markets across the United Kingdom including Washington Market Village in Sunderland which also closed suddenly over the weekend.
Shocked traders took to social media to tell customers that they would have to close without notice and with no idea if or when they will be able to reopen.
One trader told Glasgow Live how owners were forced to clear out their units and now face missing out on the busiest time of year.
Andy from Stadium Signings told Glasgow Live: "I found out off of another retailer late on Monday night about 8 o’clock, apparently there were five or six retailers still there after 5 o’clock that was told.
"I've had to empty my entire shop because we haven’t been told when or if we can even get access. I still have my online side of the business so I need to be able to have access to stock regularly, especially at this time of the year, which is by far my busiest.
"I stay in a two-bedroom flat with two kids so trying to find space for an entire shop is going to be fun. As for the future, I have no idea, whether the market will open back up again under new owners or whether I now need to look for new premises. I don’t have any answers at all at the moment.
"We've not been told anything about being reimbursed for the loss of earnings, we all pay rent on a Friday for the week in advance so we won’t even get that back I imagine."
A number of other retailers have taken to social media to inform customers of their closure while they look to find other locations to trade from. Some have said talks with The Forge's management team have gone 'positively'.
Writing on social media, S.K. Cuisine Oriental Food said their restaurant would be closed until further notice.
They added: "We’ve been informed on Monday 15th November 2022 at 5pm, the company that operates Market Village had went into liquidation. We along with all the other traders within Market Village could no longer trade from the premises.
"No retailers within the Market Village have in fact went into liquidation.
"Since we found out, we’ve been actively working with Forge Shopping Centre’s centre management to find a solution to allow us and other traders to continue trading.
"As soon as we have confirmation we can reopen, we will let everyone know through our Facebook page."
Geraud UK Ltd have been contacted for comment.
Jade Wilkie, Marketing Manager at The Forge said: "The liquidation of Market Village came as a shock to us also at 5pm on Monday. The Centre is working hard to house as many of the traders as we can and as quick as we can to have these traders open for the Christmas trade.
"There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes at the moment, and we hope to be able to announce where these retailers can trade from in coming days."
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