Afflecks Palace

I read this week that Afflecks is under threat. The lease may not be renewed and it may become "luxury" apartments in the summer.
Now is it just me, or is there someone somewhere determined to erode Manchester and let it become just another identikit city? Starbucks appearing everywhere and bars where the bleeched blonde fin haired boys can strut about looking for faked tanned halfwits, and if they don't find them then spend the night bottling anyone who dares not to fit into their stereotype.
Can anything be done to stop this? Manchester is in danger of disappearing up its own arse, filled with chain stores, coffee shops and theme fun pubs.
Surely it is time to fight back, champion the cause of the small indie shop, the local cafe the good old fashioned public house and try ot save places like Afflecks.
The fight starts here people, wander round the Tib St corridor (what actually is the Northern Quarter and does anyone from Manchester actually call it that?) and look at the amount of small shops that are there, spend your coin in there, go for a pint in places like The Castle on Oldham Street and if you want a proper bit of food, get your arse to the Koffee Pot on Stephenson Sq.
Use these places people, use them or they may not be around for too much longer and trust me, Manchester will be a worse place for it.