New stores in the guildhall

[bunique]

Poundland is always busy.

 

[cj1]

can't remember the last time I visited the Guildhall and didn't visit Poundland.

 

[Jonah]

The Guildhall, along with Stafford, was hit by the 2008/9 credit crunch and it is taking the centre and town a long time to recover.

Having said that, Poundland being in the Guildhall does not make me want to visit it. I have been in the store once, hated it, and will not go back in.

 

[Gramaisc]

I have never been in Poundstretcher/land, but it could well be what has kept the Guildhall doors open in recent years. They have a biggish unit and they will pull punters past whoever else is in there these days.

I haven't parted with money in there since HMV went and, to be honest, I probably couldn't name another current occupant since Vision Express went.

 

[Lucy]

It's generally the only reason I go into the Guildhall. I don't buy a lot from there, but I'm always happy to get toiletries for a £1 that would cost £2.50 in a supermarket.

 

[Gramaisc]

The Guildhall is handy for a Chapel Street / Church Lane link, enabling one to avoid Chugger Alley.

 

[c0tt0nt0p]

The Poundland sells cheap tat for a £1. It has dragged the guildhall down. The other stores maintained the quality of the centre, however it was financial mismanagement of the individual companies that caused their demise. Their loss from the high street was a blow. Would people feel the same loss if Poundland disappeared?

The guildhall used to have a number of quality stores. It now doesn't.

Pound / discount stores are common throughout Stafford. They don't entice me and I suspect others to trek to the guildhall, hence why the guildhall is dying.

I would disagree whole-heartedly about Poundland selling cheap tat for £1...dragged the Guildhall down ? It was well underwater before they rocked up.
I can guarantee that if Poundland wasn't in the Guildhall then the place would be in a much worse state than it is now.

The Guildhall dying has bugger all to do with Poundworld and more to do with bad planning by the management company and those ex companies that were in there.....

 

[PeterD]

The guildhall needs a pound shop more than a pound shop needs the guildhall.

 

[Cue]

What used to be on the first floor before it was converted into a JJB?

Funnily enough, in my town of birth there was a JJB in the extended part of the shopping centre that was more modern, etc. Different owners though, they just had a bridge connecting it to the main centre. The rents were astronomical (£1m/year for the unit JJB had) which is why the entire thing closed down as nobody could afford to rent there any more.

Maybe it's a pattern with JJBs.

 

[Jonah]

There were about 4 or 5 units upstairs before the JJB conversion. And a route to the car park which has now disappeared.

 

[Gramaisc]

There were about 4 or 5 units upstairs before the JJB conversion. And a route to the car park which has now disappeared.

Was there not a café up there early on? I remember going up once, right at the start, but seeing nothing to entice me back..

 

[Gareth]

Yes there was a cafe and a gadget shop, I never remembered much else though before JJB.

I also agree about poundland. Personally I think it is great, why not spend a £1.00 on something instead of £3.00, and that is coming from someone who does not mind spending.

I would not even called it for what some would lower earners and nor does it bring trouble.it is tidy and pleasant enough and I see many suited, dressed up folk in there and even saw a barrister in their a few weeks ago all dressed in his court gear getting milk lol. Issues with the guildhall have been of their own making..........and some bad luck. Bay trading, JJB and HMV had national demises little they could do about that.

Hopefully now the penny has dropped with the owners the likes of Warren James ,the works, the entertainer and Redrum music venue all in quick successiom are good starts and another to be announced.

 

[joshua]

Was there not a café up there early on? I remember going up once, right at the start, but seeing nothing to entice me back..

pretty sure it was Druckers

 

[joshua]

The guildhall needs a pound shop more than a pound shop needs the guildhall.

Exactly, the pound shop increases footfall

 

[Jonah]

Not necessarily as it discourages me from going in.

 

[Carole]

The Poundland sells cheap tat for a £1. It has dragged t.

It's generally the only reason I go into the Guildhall. I'm always happy to get toiletries for a £1 that would cost £2.50 in a supermarket.

I totally in agreement with @Lucy

I don't think that the pound shops are full of tat, in fact they are mainly full of branded products at much cheaper prices than anywhere else.

My particular brand of body lotion is three times the price in Sainsbury's/Boots. Things like Anadin Extra, Colgate, Heinz Ketchup, Mr Muscle etc all half the price of anywhere else.

And who can resist a massive bar of Toblerone for only £1.

If people want to waste their money paying three times the price that's up to them but there are plenty of us savvy shoppers who love a bargain. After all it's more money saved for other things such as holidays and treats.

My Mum used to say, "always look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves".

 

[Wormella]

According to the facebook page The Works opens on Friday 10th November

 

[proactive]

The Guildhall is handy for a Chapel Street / Church Lane link, enabling one to avoid Chugger Alley.

The chuggers all seem to avoid me now. Can't think why.

 

[wizzard]

pretty sure it was Druckers

Dalans was also upstairs for a while.

 

[rudie111]

Yes there was a cafe and a gadget shop, I never remembered much else though before JJB.

I also agree about poundland. Personally I think it is great, why not spend a £1.00 on something instead of £3.00, and that is coming from someone who does not mind spending.

I would not even called it for what some would lower earners and nor does it bring trouble.it is tidy and pleasant enough and I see many suited, dressed up folk in there and even saw a barrister in their a few weeks ago all dressed in his court gear getting milk lol. Issues with the guildhall have been of their own making..........and some bad luck. Bay trading, JJB and HMV had national demises little they could do about that.

Hopefully now the penny has dropped with the owners the likes of Warren James ,the works, the entertainer and Redrum music venue all in quick successiom are good starts and another to be announced.

I had a Tamagotchi knockoff from that gadget shop. Back when a Tamagotchi was harder to find than rocking horse shit