Another one gone - Shops closing in Stafford

[andy w]

Reading this thread and other town centre threads on here, I'm starting to think that town centres are in terminal decline unless radical action isn't taken.
The main problem is that Landlords, Local councils and central government (and some retailers for that matter) are blind to the fact that the internet has totally changed retailing and think they can milk businesses for rents and rates, and make decisions to deter people coming into town centres rather than attracting them.
As part of any governments efforts to stimulate growth outside of London and the South East, town centres should be classed as enterprise zones where rates are scrapped and funding made available for rejuvenation and housing within these areas. Dare I say this could be funded by a tax/levy on internet sales.

 

[tek-monkey]

Everything easily removable from truview appears to have been hastily removed.

 

[gilbert grape]

Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Having lived round here for so many years it saddens me that they are closing and I've not heard a thing about it.
When I passed by on a walk to the castle today there did appear to be movement next door with things being loaded to a van.

 

[Withnail]

...The main problem is that Landlords, Local councils and central government (and some retailers for that matter) are blind to the fact that the internet has totally changed retailing and think they can milk businesses for rents and rates, and make decisions to deter people coming into town centres rather than attracting them...

More difficult than that, though, isn't it?

While the retail landscape is undoubtedly in the process of change, it has yet to totally change in the way you claim.

We are in flux - the ball will almost certainly drop mainly on the e-side of the net (no not that net) but there will always be half the court open to a sweet volley that just nicks the baseline.

As things stand there is still a market for actual people actually selling things to actual people actually turning up to buy them. It will either stay that way for ever or it won't - either way it won't happen that it ceases to happen tomorrow, though it may well cease to happen the day after that.

Working out what day the day after that is is going to be is going to be the major headache of retailers both big 'n' small from... then!

Too late!

 

[tek-monkey]

Nail the evening / weekend delivery and the high street will shrink, the main reason I still use real shops is because I'm at work so unable to take deliveries. Collect+ is starting to have an impact, but as long as the folk delivering parcels keep the same hours as those wanting parcels people will just go and buy what they need themselves.

Usually from a supermarket, because all the small shops keep the same hours too. Things were different when wages were high enough for just one in a family to work, but I believe that has had a major impact too.

 

[Sir BoD]

Clothesland are on the move to Cannock. Ever since Motorworld vacated, that place has had quite a turnover of tenants.

 

[kyoto49]

C. Herbert (washing machine repairs/vacuum cleaner spares etc) in Castletown is due to close quite soon. I believe the whole plot, including the car park, will be up for sale. Not sure about the little office to the right of it.

Thats so sad, going in there is like stepping back into the years of my childhood, even before my childhood I'd say. Went in recently and got a huge rush of nostalgia for the shops like that from the past. Someone should go and take photo's of the inside before it's gone to save for future generations to view. Anyone up for that??

 

[Feed The Goat]

The internet has no doubt changed retailing for ever.

However, some town centres are still doing ok, yet Staffords is in terminal decline.

 

[biccies]

Though the optomist in me would like to point out that Stafford's centre is still doing better than some others

 

[tek-monkey]

Interstingly we also have a rather high concentration of large supermarkets encircling the town. Maybe they do bring in customers, whilst somehow also screwing over small businesses?

 

[Jonah]

Walked past Truview today and there is now a sign saying the shop has closed after 34 years trading.

So that's confirmed then.

 

[tek-monkey]

Thought so

 

[Wormella]

It's a little sad as they've just won something in the pride of Stafford awards.

 

[Jonah]

I was looking at a new cooker earlier this year. Truview were cheaper than online.

I didn't buy though as I still haven't replaced the cooker.

 

[Wormella]

I noticed walking up Wolverhampton Rd 'Great Fireplaces' - always my fave pun related name in Stafford is amalgamating it's stock with it's shop in Rugely and will be closing soon.

 

[kyoto49]

Was walking past Herberts today and noticed an oldish couple (the owners?) removing some stuff. I asked when the shop was closing and they were very vague and mumbled something about Solicitors??? I then asked if it would be possible for me to take some photo's of the interior, particularly the storeroom and workshop area as they really were fine examples of there era, and had historical value for the people of Stafford. Turns out that these areas have already been removed and cleared, but I was told they couldn't allow me to take any photo's of the inside for security reasons :S

Bit weird I thought!

 

[Gramaisc]

Nasza Biedronka, opposite the Four Crosses, may have closed. It looks empty and has been shut for days whenever I go past. The perpetual flooding on the corner can't have helped them, though that may finally have been cured.

 

[Wormella]

I'm informed The Works will actually be closing at some point in August

 

[Gareth]

I asked today but was told do not know by staff, seemed vague and I can understand. People keep saying is in decline yet the figures say otherwise still over a 90% occupancy rate take wolves and stoke at over 70 and a national average of mid 80s. With new developments it bods well for the town if not for the guildhall.

my mine gripe is lack of resturant food types of an evening and retail and bit much the same in variation. But would you rather have that than empty premises and the high street will not improve in this country until tact is changed.

the damming consultation report on stoke retail and high streets is an interesting read even advising them to cut back on the new intu development, I mean why 2 multiplex cinemas when festival park is close by. I go there at least a month and not sure when it was rammed or close to it.

With the civic centre moving that is stoke killed off outright, far more empty shops are predicted, at least in stafford you have investment coming into town which will mean kickstart elsewhere but for how long.

 

[Gareth]

P.s the consultation is readable on stoke council site and maybe sentinal.