Darlington Indoor Market manager on future of historic venue

Michael Harvey said his three years at the helm have been a “whirlwind”,  weeks after traders raised concerns over a further “downturn” in footfall.

But he hit back at negativity and rose-tinted memories which he says are having an impact on the market.

Last month family-run David Jackson Butchers closed after 47 years with the business saying in a statement on social media it "can not see a future" in the market.

It prompted greengrocer Robin Blair, Darlington's longest-serving market trader, to say he “can't see any turnaround” in business, adding: "It is very sad that the people running the market now aren't looking after it better, and the council let it go out of their hands."

Meanwhile former TV chef Matei Baran, who runs three of the street food stalls in the indoor market said: “I don't know how they will keep the market going.”

Darlington Market. (Image: PR) But, despite these concerns, Mr Harvey remains a man on a mission – and has now lifted the lid on his thoughts on the market, adapting to customer habits and what shoppers can expect coming soon.

“Since I started, there have been a lot of negative and a lot of positive changes”, he began.

“As I was coming in, there were a few traditional traders leaving. They were all dropping off. When I walked through the door, I could see business was struggling. One trader already had their notice in.

“My biggest mission with the market is to make it more relevant. We want to get as much use out of this building as possible.

“Anything to do with Darlington has a picture of the clock tower and the market there. It is clearly quite a well-revered building, and it was becoming covered in cobwebs and not being used.

Darlington Market Manager Michael Harvey. (Image: Michael Harvey) “My mission is to get use out of it, whatever that may be, whether it is food, retail, leisure, or beverage. As long as people are using the building, that is all that matters to me.”

Market Asset Management (MAM) was tasked with improving the building in 2017 when the then Labour-led council relinquished responsibility for it.

Since then a redevelopment including a new street food and events area has taken place, but, several traditional traders including some trading from the market for decades, have closed.

David Jackson butchers. As previously reported, the most recent trader to depart the indoor market was David Jackson Butchers on July 26, after 47 years of trading. It was the latest blow for the market after the closures of other businesses, including The Urban Deli, Bumble Crumble and butchers Mulholland and Sons, within the last five years.

Mr Harvey insisted talks are taking place to fill empty stalls, with a vision of blending of  traditional traders with modern ventures like the food hall and more.

He said: “We are talking with other parties - I do have a plan. You’ll have noticed there has been a turnover in the food traders, and that’s because we are focusing on startups and using it as an incubation unit.

“We give them an opportunity to hone their trade. But what we have found has happened is they have left - I want to change that food hall into something that is really thriving.

Darlington Indoor Market. “In Darlington, we have lost a lot of big names, like Marks and Spencer, but we really have a number of high-quality independent businesses and Darlington Market should represent that.”

He added: “We’ve invested millions of pounds into the building, and we want to fill them. We’d like some services in there like barbers or beauticians, something that will generate footfall.

“If we have a treadmill of people coming through the building, what an opportunity that will be for other traders.

“We have done quite a good job at filling the outside units like Haus of Bratwurst and The Vault - the outer shell is doing what we want it to do, but we need to bring that indoors now, too.

“It is a tough climate, and people aren’t that confident. What we really need is for these businesses to be supported. If people don’t come in and use them, then they won’t survive.”

Robin Blair, 80, who has raised fears about the market's future. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Earlier this month market visitors told the Echo of their fears about its future.

Ann Anderson. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Regular visitor Ann Anderson, 85, from Aycliffe Village, described the state of the market "a tragedy", adding: "It’s a waste of time coming in [to the market]."

Meanwhile window cleaner Tristan Dawber from Darlington said he would have liked to have seen the market “back in the heyday”.

Darlington's Indoor Market. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) But, Mr Harvey hit back saying it is this type of both negativity and nostalgia that is having an impact on the market.

He said: “A lot of people in the market look at it through rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia. But nostalgia doesn’t pay the bills. It needs to work again.

“If I snapped my fingers or waved a magic wand and it all went back to how it was 30 years ago, I don’t think it would work in the same way.

“I think businesses would still be dropping off and struggling. There is a romantic narrative that the big bad company came in to kick out all the traditional retailers, which isn’t the case at all.

Darlington's Indoor Market. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) “A lot of them were in massive arrears, and their businesses were failing - it was a rescue mission to make this building work.

“As traders have left, we’ve brought in others that are a bit more modern with hopes of supporting what is already here and unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be enough.

He added: “This negativity isn’t just us. It is the same situation everywhere. No one likes change. Although there is a very vocal minority, I see hundreds of happy customers through the doors every day.

“In another hundred years, the market may change again, and I’m sure there will be uproar then too, but you’ve got to move with the change.”