City Cobbler which was previously the
British Shoe Company is closing after less than two years at the central Sutton shopping centre Sign up to our free email alerts for the top MySuttonColdfield stories sent straight to your e-mail We have more newsletters A shop at Sutton Coldfield ’s main shopping centre has closed its doors for the final time less than two years after it arrived at the site. City Cobbler at Sutton’s Gracechurch Shopping Centre has closed this month having only arrived at the site just before
Christmas 2021. It was then called the British Shoe Company and as well as footwear, also sold leather goods including wallets, belts and bags. And gifts – everything from watches, cufflinks, hip flasks, globes and ornaments. It was also a shoe repair shop, a key cutting outlet and engravers, but struggled to get a foothold in the town, which already has a longstanding Timpson's store. It tried a rebrand to City Cobbler – which is part of the same business. Read more: Store closes months after opening– but another town venture opens But that appears not to have worked and it has suffered the same fate as other shoe shops with brands like Jones the Bootmaker, Office and Shoe Zone, among the footwear stores to open and close in Sutton. At the time of opening the British Shoe Company said: “We are a family run business which has been involved in English shoe making and repairing for generations, with over 100 years of combined knowledge and experience to call on. We manufacture and supply top quality shoes made in
England, alongside carefully selected International partners." “The majority of our shoes are handcrafted in Northamptonshire, the home of English shoe making for almost 900 years. The British Shoe Company has assembled some of the most popular brands currently producing hand crafted shoes in England, with a vast selection of styles with the expected quality to match.” City Cobbler, which was formerly the British Shoe Company - part of the same firm, has closed its doors after around 18 monhts at Sutton Coldfield's Gracechurch Shopping Centre (Image: BirminghamLive) City Cobbler/British Shoe Company has been approached for a comment. A spokesman for the Gracechurch Centre said: “We can confirm that City Cobbler is no longer trading in the Gracechurch Centre.” It was said to be more extensive than the firm’s Bath store, as it was ‘more than just shoes’ and it said it was also not a ‘pop-up shop’. But it has not survived. It joins recent closures like Teako, the hot tub and homeware shop which opened in the former Argos just before Christmas, but did not make it to spring. But there have been arrivals, like mobile phone repair and accessory store, iCrack. And the landmark Red Wagon has recently changed hands in the Parade, right by the Gracechurch Centre. And is now in the hands of two business operators from Hong Kong, bringing a taste of the far east to Sutton with the Akita Hooman takeaway food and drinks outlet . With a new Teddy Bear bubble tea bar also coming soon to the former Craft Inn in nearby Birmingham Road. Get the latest from Sutton Coldfield sent straight to your inbox here. READ NEXT Heartfelt goodbyes as shop to close after decades at site New takeaway opens at landmark food site which was shut for months Rare Beatles album handed in at Sutton charity shop sells for thousands Stalker warning as 'creep' follows young mum at park Scores more fare dodgers hit with penalty fares at city station