End of an era after 40 years in city centre
THE new 50-acre Wholesale Market in Witton will have 55 tenants and be one of the largest integrated markets of its kind in Europe.
Prior to an official launch in June, there will be a low-key ceremony from 10am on Tuesday to mark the opening with council leader Ian Ward giving a speech.
The chairman of Birmingham Wholesale Market’s fresh produce association, Mark Tate, who also runs the country’s oldest fruit and veg wholesaler, George Perry, said: “This move is a colossal event. Our company has been at the current wholesale market for 44 years since it opened in 1973 and it has been in the centre of Birmingham since 1870.
“It will be an emotional time, but I think that will be more than a reflective thing as everything is moving full steam ahead – we are at the stage now where we just want to get out”
Mr Tate’s company will have 250 pallets to transfer before it becomes the largest operator on the new site.
Once the traders have moved out, the old Pershore Street site will be taken over by Friction Arts for six weeks which will run an arts festival to showcase 900 years of market history in Birmingham. Nine weeks after clos- ing, bulldozers are expected to start to clear the site for redevelopment.
The original Wholesale Market building was built on the site of Birmingham’s original manor house, and first opened in 1883.
The history of markets in Birmingham is even older – dating back more than 800 years to 1166 when the city was granted a Royal Charter
On July 16, 2011, traders were given four months’ notice to quit the market – with no alternative provision in sight. The old site was designated an enterprise zone in 2012 but it has taken until now to find a new location and build the infrastructure.