Rochdale Emporium Ltd dissolved via voluntary strike off

Rochdale Emporium

Rochdale Emporium Ltd, the company set up to run the former Emporium and Feel Good Cafe on Yorkshire Street, has been dissolved via voluntary strike off.

The project, first mooted in 2009 by then Liberal Democrat councillor Greg Couzens as an 'Afflecks Palace' for Rochdale, opened in March 2012.

The council paid for the fitting out before handing over the emporium/cafe to Rochdale Town Centre Management, who had set up Rochdale Emporium as a private company.

The Emporium never really did what it was set up to do, struggling to attract and keep tenants, particularly when the cafe moved downstairs, and the cafe lost money, despite financial assistance from the Council and external funding to the tune of £150,000.

The doors were finally closed in February this year. The Council was forced to write off over £14,000 outstanding on a loan and the directors applied for the company to be voluntarily struck off.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/94274/the-feel-good-cafe-rochdale-emporium-has-closed

Emporium Managing Director, Martin Ballard purchased the assets of Rochdale Emporium Ltd and set up a new venture, The Chocolate Bar, in the building, but that too foundered recently.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/1/business-news/97501/the-chocolate-bar-closes