Aklu Plaza Romford 'almost empty' after founder ends lease

Aklu Plaza in Romford has seen most of its retailers stop trading since December 31, its founder Aklu Miah said yesterday (January 18).

Trade has all but stopped inside Aklu Plaza for now (Image: George Hayes)

This comes after Mr Miah signed over the lease for the former Debenhams at 56-72 Market Place to a second party, who is expected to come in next week.

There is a lot of vacant space inside (Image: George Hayes)

Today (January 19), we visited the shopping complex which was all but empty.

The old Debenhams sign is partly covered (Image: George Hayes)

Just two businesses remain open: food retailer Kacha Bazar and a hair and beauty salon by appointment only, the Recorder understands.

Home Superstore has already closed at Aklu Plaza (Image: George Hayes)

Aklu Plaza opened in 2022 following the closure of high street department store Debenhams.

Mr Miah said he left Aklu Plaza on December 31 in 2023 (Image: George Hayes)

When asked why Aklu Plaza struggled to survive, Mr Miah felt that the issue was not with shops inside the shopping mall, but Romford's parking.

Kacha Bazar is still open (Image: George Hayes)

He said: "The problem was the parking issue - there was no space for people to park and shop there."

RELATED NEWS: Romford shopping mall Aklu Plaza future debated by readers

Aklu Plaza all but shut: Just Kacha Bazaar and a hair and beauty salon by appointment only remains open, the Recorder understands (Image: George Hayes)

Mr Miah believed people were put off by having to walk their shopping from the complex to multi-storey car parks.