The boss of a Swindon restaurant has spoken out on the shock closure of Frankie & Benny’s at Greenbridge Retail Park.
Fiesta De Cuba opened at Greenbridge Retail & Leisure Park in 2022, moving into the space once occupied by Chiquitos space next door to Frankie & Benny’s.
Yet after just over a year of working side by side, the latter restaurant suddenly closed and served its final meal on Sunday, October 22.
This is the second business in the retail park to close in recent months after Empire Cinema permanently shut in July.
Fiesta De Cuba operations manager Scott Jacobs does not believe that the neighbouring restaurant's departure will affect business.
“We had plenty of notice as they gave us a heads up out of courtesy with us being neighbours and it is just one of those things with the economy at the moment,” he said.
“I don’t think the closure of Frankie & Benny’s will affect our business as the cinema is the main one that’s affected us really around here.
“The new cinema and bowling coming in next year is all promising and we’ve just got to stay positive for good things to come.”
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The 30-year-old has not ruled out taking on former Frankie & Benny’s staff but appreciates this may come next year.
“We are not looking to hire anyone at the moment unfortunately but we did speak to a few of them who did approach us and we’ve taken their details for if anything comes up,” said Scott.
“The last thing we want is for them to be out of work but we’re not in the strongest position at the moment obviously with the cinema gone and we’ve dropped in trade.
“You never know though as this time next year we could be a lot busier and have some more staff.”
Vue is looking to take over the cinema while Hollywood Bowl will also move into the site and Scott believes this will ignite the Swindon leisure location.
“I don’t think the location is an issue for businesses and I guarantee that once these new ones move in you’ll see the whole Greenbridge site come to life a bit more.
“It’s just at a bad stage at the moment with a few of the units closed but hopefully these units will be occupied and there will be a little more life to the retail park.
“We’re still trading and we are extremely positive that this area is going to get busier and it’s going to be a more desirable place for families to come out to.”
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