Sutton residents have made it clear that Morrisons holds a special place on the High Street, with many saying they want to see the supermarket return, while others don’t.
The store at 31 High Street closed in July 2024 for what was originally described as “essential maintenance work”.
From October 2024 to early September 2025, Morrisons gave no update.
The supermarket chain announced earlier this month that the original store will not reopen, but a new one will be built instead.
We asked our Sutton Guardian readers for their thoughts on this, and the comments shared a mix of hope, frustration, and wild ideas for the site.
Some people just want a new Morrisons, rebuilt and reopened as a supermarket.
Gemma Mcmillan clarified for some confused readers: “They’re knocking the building down completely and rebuilding Morrisons.
“They will reopen a brand-new store there.”
Others suggested alternative supermarkets like B&M, Home Bargains, Aldi, Tesco, Waitrose, and even Woolworths for nostalgic reasons.
Lesley Smith said: “Definitely a Home Bargains or B&M or even a Wilko back.”
Moin Din added: “We need a supermarket with free parking in the Upper High Street before it becomes ghost street.”
A few residents also had more imaginative ideas, such as Steady Rock, who joked: “They are building indoor, invisible multi-story shopping, skateboard, trampoline, leisure centre…
“Shoppers will be shopping and hopping from aisle to aisle.”
Others worried that redevelopment would mean flats above the store.
John Smith wrote: “Development partner means housing, simply put there is a lot of air space above the store and car park ripe for another 1000 little flats to house delivery drivers.”
Gaz Birdman added: “So basically… needs repairs, won’t repair, but will spend even more to rebuild… which translates as… will capitalise and build with a block of flats on top maybe?
“Spend 3 million, make 10 million back.”
Jack Renel predicted: “Obviously it’s going to be a block of flats,” while Mark Mohamed said, “Just open the car park.”
Some Facebook users focused on convenience and community needs.
Pamela Peller said: “We definitely need a good supermarket this end of Sutton, with parking facilities.
“There are three supermarkets at the bottom of Sutton with parking.”
Lorna Graham shared: “Sadly, I haven’t been to Sutton since my dad passed in 2023 but he used to always shop in Morrisons.
“Wouldn't an Iceland store best serve the community?”
Some residents were clearly unimpressed with the news or Morrisons itself.
Ricardo Gobin said: “No point in building a new store I stopped going years ago, they got too expensive.
“This news means nothing.”
Meanwhile, there were a few lighthearted suggestions for what could go in the store if it weren’t a supermarket.
Rossco Slim Baker said: “Ann Summers superstore would be great,” while Kelly Gooderham suggested: “They should do an indoor skating rink.”
Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton and Cheam Luke Taylor said he was “really pleased” about the news after residents expressed how much they wanted Morrisons to stay on the High Street.
He said: “It’s a vote of confidence in our high street, and the great work we are doing to keep Sutton a thriving, bustling place to do business.
“I have heard from so many of you about getting this important store on our high street back up and running - and I’ll continue to represent your views by engaging with Morrisons as they explore the viability of different options.”
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