Confused shoppers in Bury say they cannot understand why two units at the popular Rock shopping centre have never been filled.
The units, which sit either side of the Racconto Lounge, on the old site of the nightclub Sol Viva, are believed to have been empty ever since they were built around four-and-a-half years ago.
This was after The Rock - which describes itself as the county's 'premier shopping and leisure destination' - was finished..
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And, while shoppers have praised the creation of the shopping district, the M.E.N. spoke to some who questioned why the two large units had remained unused.
"Why did they build it that big? They shouldn't have built it that big," said Lisa Tomlinson.
The building connects Bury's pedestrianised high street with the open-air shopping centre.
The three units at the front open up onto a piazza area - facing JD Sports.
Only the one in the middle is occupied - by the Racconto Lounge.
But Lisa can understand why the bar and restaurant took up the central unit.
She points out that one of the glass-walled units faces a car park - and that the one on the other side faces run-down charity shops.
"If you're paying money for food you want nice surroundings," she said.
Some shoppers have become so used to the sight of the building that they almost don't realise what's missing.
At a glance, it could very well look like the whole space is occupied by the Racconto Longue.
Helen Kent said: "I never realised it was every empty.
"I can't understand why no one is in there."
But its clear upon later inspection that nothing has ever been inside the units.
"It's all concrete. There's no fixtures or fittings inside," her husband Les said.
Helen added: "What a waste. I thought it would have been a nice spot."
A few of the shoppers the M.E..N spoke to said that they like popping into the Racconto Lounge for a bite to eat or a drink. But what does it make of being sat there all alone?
"We've just not had neighbours for a very long time. It would be nice to have neighbours to increase our footfall - but I think we're just used to it," the manager said.
"There's nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition. I don't think it would affect us too much," she added.
A woman who works in Bury, but didn't wish to be named, shared the same sentiment as many of the shoppers.
"It's a waste. That's what I think of it," she said.
A man the M.E.N. spoke to, who has lived in Bury for 32 years, said he didn't like the sight of unused buildings.
He said: "Open them up the to homeless. It must have cost a fortune just to make the building.
"It's not being used for anything. Why can't you just make use of it?"
Jean, the most vocal of her groups of friends, told the M.E.N: "It doesn't make sense that they leave the building empty. It doesn't make sense.
"The people who own it, why are they not doing anything about it?"
"All it does it drag the area down."
The M.E.N has given The Rock weeks to comment and is no closer to understanding why the units have stayed empty for so long.
