Manchester’s famous alternative department store, Affleck’s Palace has undergone a change of management.
After months of doubt and speculation, Bruntwood have taken charge of the building after the previous leaser, Elaine Walsh had to relinquish the building after months of unsuccessful negotiations.
Despite only having a lease on the building, Mrs Walsh does own the famous mosaics that adorn the walls of Affleck’s Palace. The mosaics have been removed from the walls now and have been taken to be renovated and then possibly auctioned off.
The new owners have quickly stamped their authority on the building making several changes already. They have replaced the mosaics on the outside walls with their own artwork; they have renovated the stairwells and rebranded the building simply as Affleck’s.
To celebrate the relaunch of Affleck’s, “Afflecks Day” was commissioned. People packed into the café as the event included live music as well as DJ sets by the Hacienda’s Dave Haslam and Inspiral Carpets’ Tom Hingley.
Bruntwood’s manager, Tony Martin, told the Manchester Evening News that due to the event’s success “it could become an annual event.”
Such an idea would surely go down well with Affleck’s shoppers because many feel as though it holds a special place in Mancunian culture. When Affleck’s’ future was in doubt there was a lot of protest from shoppers and celebrities alike, including some of Manchester’s most famous musicians from the likes of Oasis and New Order.
Monday 21 April 2008
Saturday 19 April 2008
Is Affleck's Still The Same?
Affleck’s Palace is something of a
There had been fears that the alternative department store would close when the 25 year lease had not been renewed. Bruntwood have since taken the reins rebranding it “Affleck’s” making some redevelopments including replacing the famous artwork which was taken by previous owner, Elaine Walsh.
Negotiations between Bruntwood and Mrs Walsh continued for months but they were unable to strike a deal and so she had to leave, taking with her the famous mosaics which adorned Affleck’s Palace’s walls.
Bruntwood’s manager, Tony Martin, claimed in the Manchester Evening News “We're not looking to change Afflecks in any way.
“We want to keep the character, that's the most important thing, and we've involved the stall holders every step of the way.”
This notion was not shared by Jez Fitzgerald, who runs tattoo stall, Skinvasion. “Since Elaine Walsh left it has changed. The atmosphere, the people who come and the reasons it is being run have all changed. It has lost most of its character. Big business planning will undermine the ideals which made this place.”
If this is the case then it would be a great shame because Affleck’s Palace does have a special place in the hearts of many and it is renowned not only in
Deborah Schofield, who works at a clothes stall called Zeefa, disagrees with Mr Fitzgerald, saying that one of Affleck’s strengths is that “it hasn’t changed”.
Affleck’s Palace, during its 25 years of existence has acquired itself a very unique perception and it is generally seen as a significant symbol of Mancunian culture.
Mr Fitzgerald says “It is one of the only places of its kind. It is something which has had points of reference to many of
The fact that the likes of Alice Cooper go to Affleck’s Palace is a measure of the size of its reputation. Also, members of Oasis, Inspiral Carpet, Happy Mondays and New Order joined the campaign to keep it open.
Michael James – Robinson, the administrator of the Affleck’s Palace facebook group which has over 2,000 members, described why Affleck’s is so special. “Affleck's has always been a friendly place where me and my friends would meet up for a hot drink and a chat in Top Café before moving on for a bit of shopping, it's where I like to shop with my girlfriend and friends alike, it's an epicentre for finding new clubs and items you just can't get anywhere else as on every floor there are flyers for shops, clubs, bars, bands and places that alternative friendly, it's not the kind of thing you find in your local citizens advice bureau.”
He continued: “It is a piece of history and one of the few places left where alternatives can have so much purchasing choice without the threat of being singled out for being different or looked at like a shoplifter just for dressing in black.”
Mr Fitzgerald said that it is a place where “people who couldn’t cut it in the ‘real world’ would come. It became somewhere out of the norm.”
Despite Affleck’s being an established part of Mancunian alternative culture, Mr Fitzgerald is pessimistic about the future. “In its heyday the décor and the atmosphere were the major attractions but this has slowly changed.”
The fact that Affleck’s Palace stayed open pleased many people but what still remains of what it was spiritually is up for debate. Mr Fitzgerald said: “In some ways it would have been a big loss. The biggest loss was Elaine Walsh.
“To me, Affleck’s Palace is about Elaine Walsh more than a building. She is the one who had the courage and foresight to set this up for the people of
“Affleck’s would be worth five times more if it was empty than with all of us (the market stall owners) in it”.
Mr James – Robinson added: “If Affleck's had closed it would have created a void in Manchester leaving alternatives few an far between and scattered about, sure for the over 18s there are clubs but for the younger generations they would be loosing something that they would never get back, worse still future alternatives may never have known what Affleck's is all about and it would have become another piece of history, another unique place lost to the housing industry.
“Some damage has already been done and many shops have been forced to close before the building was saved, many good shops have fallen with no sign of them opening back up, there are large sections of floor left empty, we can only hope that other like minded and unique shops decide to take up residence bringing Affleck's back to its former glory”.
The way that things are going over at Affleck’s as it is now called does not bode well for it’s future and a more commercialised future beckons and as Mr Fitzgerald earlier hinted, the ideals that made Affleck’s Palace could walk out of the door along with Elaine Walsh and her mosaics.
Appearance aside, it is clear that Affleck’s Palace and Affleck’s are two very different things.
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