McGroggan's Ice Cream Shop Closes After 103 Years as Rising Costs Cut Viability
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 30
McGroggan's Ice Cream Shop Closes After 103 Years as Rising Costs Cut Viability
2 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 30
Summary
Saturday marked the final trading day for McGroggan's in Ballymena, ending a 103-year run for the family-run ice cream shop founded in 1922.
Owner Patricia McGroggan said rising costs and weaker town-centre footfall made the business no longer viable, despite a busy final week of farewell visits.
Four generations of the McGroggan family ran the William Street shop, which built a reputation for homemade ice cream and won multiple awards over the years.
Retail NI called the closure a blow to Northern Ireland's high streets, saying recent shutdowns including Wyse Byse and McKillen's show mounting pressure on local traders.
The group urged the Northern Ireland Executive to cut business rates, warning more closures could further drain footfall from surrounding shops.