LOVINGLY known as ‘Mrs M&S’ Tricia Hercoe says she has ‘nothing to lose’ after launching a petition to open a Foodhall and cafe in Poole.
Despite the Marks and Spencer department store in the Dolphin Centre, Poole, set to close its doors for good next month, Mrs Hercoe is determined to keep her favourite retailer in town one way or another.
Previously, Mrs Hercoe launched a petition to keep the department store open which gained more than 3,000 signatures.
'Nothing to lose'
Now Mrs Hercoe has launched a new petition for an M&S Foodhall and cafe to open on Poole High Street. She said: “I thought I might as well do it, I’ve got nothing to lose really.
“I believe it’s where M&S is making all of its money at the moment, which is why they’re opening all of these Foodhalls around - they’re opening one in New Milton.
“I know there are a lot of cafes in Poole but the Marks and Spencer one is good and people go shopping and then go in for a coffee afterwards, that’s what we always do.”
The Marks and Spencer department store in the Dolphin Centre - which first opened its doors in 1971 - will be closing next month.
Mrs Hercoe said:
“I don’t look forward to the eighth of January when it closes at all.
READ MORE: Marks and Spencer confirm closure of Dolphin Centre store in Poole
READ MORE: All of the Marks and Spencer stores left in Dorset once town centre branch closes
“A lot of people have said the same but it’s something we can’t change.”
Accepting the fact the store will be closing for good is one thing, but Mrs M&S is determined to keep her favourite retailer on the high street nonetheless.
Mrs Hercoe has put the idea to Marks and Spencer’s executive team, which she says has been shared with their development team.
She said: “I’d like to see a Foodhall in the High Street - but I don’t know if that would be possible because of the parking - I believe the Iceland building is still empty and there’s a car park close by at the back of it.
“People that shop in Poole that go into the Dolphin Centre - it’s still a way to go, for them to go into the High Street, but it’s better than there being no Marks and Spencer at all.
“Never say never!”
The petition can be viewed here.
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