Sainsbury's only Crewe store closed down for the final time after the lease ended for the Edleston Road building.

A closing down sign has been in the front and back window of the shop since February, confirming it would be shutting at 4pm on Saturday March 5.

Sainsbury's spokesperson Rosalia Shindjoba told Nub News: "Our Crewe Edleston Road Local store has now closed. Customers can continue to shop with us at our nearby stores, including our Nantwich superstore.

"A decision to close a store is never taken lightly and is based on a range of factors. We understand this will be an unsettling time for those affected and we're supporting them in any way we can."

She said staff will "have the opportunity" to be redeployed to another Sainsbury's store.

The closest Sainsbury's supermarket to Crewe is the Nantwich superstore, four miles away. This also contains an Argos which closed down from Crewe's Market Shopping Centre in 2020.

Back in 2009, a Sainsbury's store was approved by Cheshire East Council for the units now occupied by Dunelm Mill and Home Bargains off Vernon Way.

The 60,000 sq ft supermarket that was to include a petrol station and restaurant, never materialised as Dunelm Mill refused to leave the site.

The supermarket chain confirmed last week that it was planning to close 200 of its cafes next month, putting around 2,000 jobs at risk.

The former Kwik Save store has faced fiercer competition in recent years from discount supermarket chains as Aldi opened its second Crewe store on Nantwich Road in 2016.

Lidl also opened its first Crewe store on the nearby Dorothy Flude Retail park last year.

McColl's on Nantwich Road has been another competitor, popular for the morning papers.

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