New businesses have moved in but there is uncertainty about what the future holdsL-R Meg Alderson and Sammy Leigh of Goodness Grief Tattoo Company of Cavern Walks Shopping Centre(Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool ECHO)There is a mixture of excitement and uncertainty in a Liverpool shopping centre that people “don’t know about”. Cavern Walks opened in 1984 on Mathew Street as a luxury retail destination, with hanging plants, candy pink lamp posts and a wall-climber lift linking two shopping levels.In the 2000s, the site, built on the original location of the Cavern Club, was filled with high-end brands such as Cricket and Vivienne Westwood and boasted high profile customers such as Coleen Rooney and Alex Gerrard.But when the ECHO visited last summer, Cavern Walks was mostly deserted, with just a handful of customers, several shut-down shops and a closed upper level.A ‘new era’?There was hope for business owners in spite of these struggles last July, with new tenants set to move-in and the hope of the prospect of a long awaited 150-bed Beatles-themed hotel moving in on the upper level.Cavern Walks was bought in 2022 by JSM Company Group and Craig Greenwood’s Greenwood Developments. JSM told the ECHO in July 2025 the shopping centre was approaching a “new era” thanks to the new hotel and shops.L-R Cavern Walks Shopping Centre in Liverpool June 2025 v May 2026(Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool ECHO)But it looks like the hotel plans have been scrapped. The ECHO reported earlier this month documents had been lodged with Liverpool Council planners, solely by JSM, to install 85 serviced apartments on the first to seventh floors instead.’It’s open but everyone thinks it’s closed’When the ECHO visited Cavern Walks this week, workmen were present in the upstairs level but none of the tenants we spoke to were aware of what they were doing.Lisa Trapasso-Emina, from Norris Green, runs Reborn Baby Dolls, selling dolls which are made to resemble real life babies. She enjoys working in the shopping centre but says she will only be able to stay open there if it is better promoted.Lisa said: ”I love it here. I love the shop, love all the other shops (and) the store holders, everybody’s lovely. The atmosphere’s nice. It’s just very quiet. A lot of people don’t know we’re here. It’s open but everyone thinks it’s closed.The interior of Cavern Walks, July 27 1993, with the upstairs level open and glass lift in operation(Image: Mirrorpix)“All the units are full. We need a lot more advertising, a lot more publicity. Also, do you remember out on Lord Street, there used to be an arch saying ‘Cavern Walks’?“We need something like that back there. Maybe bright lights out on Mathew Street because it looks quite dark as you walk past. Unless you stick your head in, you don’t really know there’s anything there. We’ve all put signs out and done the best we can ourselves, but I think we need more.“Maybe we need the upstairs sorting out, and then once that happens it might be better. We need customers to come in because without customers, I don’t know how long I can stay here for.”Lisa Trapasso-Emina, owner of Lisa’s Reborn Baby Dolls(Image: Liverpool Echo)On what she knows about plans for the upstairs level, Lisa added: “I’ve heard lots of different things. I’ve heard there’s going to be shops up there (or that) there’s going to be a hotel.“There’s a lot of banging going on up there, so something’s happening, but I just don’t know what. I think if they take this ceiling down, it will brighten up. I think it’d be gorgeous like it used to be. It was such a beautiful feature at one time. Hopefully if we stay positive things will get better for us.”Adam Williams, 65, who lives in Bootle, runs Rojeans vape shop. He moved here in 2017 from his previous base on Hanover Street. He too said he had no knowledge of what was happening upstairs.Adam Williams, owner of Rojeans vape shop(Image: Liverpool Echo)He said: “I was sold an empty promise that this shopping centre would be buzzing. It doesn’t look like that will happen but it’s not going to be my problem.”Adam will be closing his shop in October and is looking forward to retired life. He insists however that he is not calling it a day because of what’s happening in Cavern Walks.He says he made the decision due to increased government taxation on vapes and competition from convenience stores who also sell vapes.Adam has previously said independent vape shops like his lose out to some convenience stores who sell illegal vapes under the counter.’It is getting busier and busier’Sammy Leigh, 33, from Liverpool city centre, opened the Goodness Grief Tattoo Parlour in October. Her priority in terms of improving Cavern Walks is getting the upstairs level open again.Sammy said: ”They’re throwing metal down the stairs every day, so we assume they’re doing something. It’ll be cool if it’s a hotel.”We get mainly tourists obviously because they come through The Beatles thing. We do an endless amount of Beatles and Liverpool tattoos.The upstairs level of Cavern Walks is still closed(Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool ECHO)“I don’t think it massively matters (what is built there). When we got here, there was a promise that there would be more footfall at some point and it is getting busier.“I think people living or staying, or whatever, up top, it can only help us. It’ll be nice I think once the whole building’s up and running.”Sammy argues the shopping centre has given her business a rare chance to have its own physical base. She said: “We’ve just tried to make a nice little space that’s a bit welcoming and not like your traditional studio.The opening of Cricket revamped fashion store – pictured Louise Bonsall (L) with Cricket director Justine Mills with Lesley Owen sister of Michael Owen back in 2003(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)“We were looking for a ground floor space because we wanted somewhere that people could walk in. We’ve been in private studios for so long.“But it’s so hard to find ground floor space that isn’t extortionate or taken by a franchise. We came across this and just snapped it up because it’s a cute little spot. It’s worked out well so far. It’s been nice.”There was a similar feeling from Janey Fairhurst, the company director of Mathew Street Records, a music shop and cafe.Janey, 32, from Wigan, said: ”We’ve been here about seven months now. Footfall has been great. We’ve met some absolutely amazing people and are excited for it to continue to grow.Janey Fairhurst, the company director of Mathew Street Records(Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool Echo)”All the other businesses are feeding off each other, which is what you want. I think, location-wise, it’s fantastic for us, being so close to The Cavern where it all began for The Beatles.“In terms of records, everybody’s back into it now. (The cafe) is perfect for us. When we do our live events as well, it’s going to be absolutely fantastic.”JSM declined to comment on its plans for the upstairs level of Cavern Walks and calls from businesses for greater promotion of the shopping centre.The ECHO also approached Mr Greenwood via Greenwood Development’s website and his air conditioning business, Everkool, for a response.
