Afflecks

Afflecks (formerly Afflecks Palace)cite web |title=Manchester Evening News - News - Palace Becomes Simply Afflecks |publisher=Manchester Evening News |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1045085_palace_becomes_simply_afflecks |date=2008-04-13 |accessdate=2008-04-13] the brain child of James and Elaine Walsh, is a building housing an indoor market and is located at the junction of Church Street/Tib Street and Dale Street with Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter of Manchester in England.

Dozens of independent stalls, small shops and boutiques operate in the one building. During the 1990s 'Mad-chester Summer Of Lover' period – when local bands like the Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets were riding on the cusp of a wave – Afflecks Palace was a fashionable spot to get oversized flared jeans and tie dyed t-shirts and with the 'Eastern Bloc' record store dealing in all the latest underground dance tunes of the time.

History

Afflecks Palace first opened in 1981. On 31 March 2008 Afflecks Palace ceased trading, it re-opened on 1 April 2008 as Afflecks under new management. Afflecks will be managed by Northern England property developer Bruntwood when the current management stand down following several months of negotiations between the founder Elaine Walsh and building owner Bruntwood concerning the future of the building after the expiry of its 25-year lease in June 2007. [cite web |title=Afflecks Palace saved |author=Deborah Linton |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1034919_afflecks_palace_saved |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=2008-02-01 |accessdate=2008-06-26] It had been previously suggested that Bruntwood would redevelop the building, possibly leading to its closure as a market, [cite web |title=Our Palace of wonders |author=Emma Unsworth |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/236/236486_our_palace_of_wonders.html |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=2007-02-16 |accessdate=2008-06-26] [cite web |title=Afflecks Palace under threat |author=Ciara Leeming |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/236/236059_afflecks_palace_under_threat.html |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=2007-02-13 |accessdate=2008-06-26] [cite web |title=Afflecks Palace under threat |author=Ciara Leeming |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/236/236168_bid_to_break_afflecks_deadlock.html |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=2007-02-14 |accessdate=2008-06-26] with many traders having feared that closure would be likely and that notice could have been given as soon as the end of January. [cite web |title=Afflecks traders face boot |author=Ciara Leeming |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1030767_afflecks_traders_face_boot |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=2008-01-06 |accessdate=2008-06-26]

Following the change in management a representative of the property developer is quoted to have said "Never in our 30 year history have we bought one of our customer's businesses but Afflecks is a Manchester icon that we wanted to protect. We aren't however expert in managing markets, so will look for a suitable long term owner". [cite web |title=Iconic Afflecks saved by owners |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7223363.stm |publisher=BBC Online |date=2008-02-01 |accessdate=2008-06-26]

hops

Ground floor

* Grin
* Extreme Largeness

First floor

*Strawberry peach
*Vintage Clothing
*No Angel
*Thunder Egg
*Space Hopper
*Milner and Webb
*Andrew Lu
*Elysia
*Abacus

econd floor

*Cherry Cherry
*Palace Barber
*Mashed
*Vampire Bunnies
*Tokyo Royale
*Zeffa
*American Graffiti
*Rowfers
*Extreme Largeness
*Soho's
*Skinvasion Body Piercing
*Baylis and Knight

Third Floor

*Cafe 3- newly opened cafe on the top floor serving a range of food and drinks
*Grunge Monkey Music - Music CD's (sold, brought & traded) dvd's and t-shirts
*Me&Yu - Independent Fashion Label selling handmade & handprinted designs.
*Attic Fancy Dress
*Biggi Bagga - Bags & fashion accessories including hair extensions.
*Boodleum - Hippy Ethnic wear Indian Textiles and speciality incense

(Not including the Northern Quarter Arcade, (N4) which is adjacent to the Palace, but not part of the same building. Notable shops in the arcade are; Panic Posters, The Studio, Cyber Dog, Pink Kamikaze, Cafe Society and the Rubber Plantation)

References

External links

* [http://www.afflecks.com/ www.afflecks.com Official Site]
* [http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/shops/afflecks.html Manchester 2002 entry for Afflecks Palace]