Yankee Heaven reopens in Littleborough

Littleborough’s beloved Yankee Heaven has found a new home at Canal Wharf, off Canal Street, after a turbulent year.

The new location marks the third home for the family-run business after the unexpected closure of the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre in Rochdale, and the closure of the original Yankee Heaven store when the lease on the building was up.

Mark Jones, who runs the business alongside his wife, Lauren – with a helping hand from their four children – says that 'in hindsight, everything has worked out better than expected'.

After the success of their original Yankee Heaven store, the couple expanded into Rochdale with Fizz Bomb, originally located on Drake Street before moving into the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre.

However, the centre closed during the first lockdown after the pandemic hit the UK, re-opened in June and then closed again in November because its occupiers – including Fizz Bomb – were all classed as non-essential retail. 

Mark and Lauren quickly adapted, offering a click and collect service as well as local delivery, inundating them with orders.

 

 

Before the November lockdown ended, the centre’s owners MCR Property Group announced the centre would not be reopening, leaving Mark and Lauren to find a new home once more.

Mark added: “We closed Yankee Heaven before the six-year lease was up, we were home-schooling because of the pandemic and we put it all into Fizz Bomb. Rochdale was faring better because people didn’t want to travel, but then the news came that the shopping centre would not reopen after lockdown.

“We pleaded to trade until Christmas, but this fell on deaf ears. Fizz Bomb hadn’t opened since the second lockdown.”

He continued: “The council helped financially which we didn’t expect, and we wouldn’t have survived without the government’s Covid support. We would be here in one shape or form, but not the way were are now.

“In hindsight, it has worked out better for us as we’ve come back to the village, we’re now able to sell some refreshments and it’s a happy ending.”

 

 

Now with bigger premises, Yankee Heaven is able to offer a takeaway refreshment service with Marshfield ice cream, tea and coffee, as well as milkshake and special ice cream adapted for dogs – which has gone down a treat with locals.

Yankee Heaven is open every day from 11am to 5pm (8pm on Fridays and Saturdays) and is still offering deliveries on its products and brands including Yankee Candle, WoodWick, Emily Victoria, Scents By Saffron, Lily Flame, Bridgewater, Bomb Cosmetics and Mad Beauty.