Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

[basil]

Given up ale ?!!!!....

 

[The Hawk]

A somewhat underwhelming breakfast at The Swan this morning followed by a stroll through the Wednesday Market (precious few stalls, chuggers outnumbering stallholders 3 to 1, and annoyingly shouty butcher) has brought it home to me that, apart from Caffe Nero and the Soup Kitchen, for meetings there is really precious little reason for me to come into Stafford any more.

I can get all I need from Cannock, without the traffic queues and their market on a Friday is really good (especially the noodle bar).

Shame, but there it is.

The Wednesday market is indeed very poor; I don't think it will last much longer. Contrast that with the Makers Market (3rd Saturday every month) which is excellent and is proving to be a real crowd puller.

 

[joshua]

The Wednesday market is indeed very poor; I don't think it will last much longer. Contrast that with the Makers Market (3rd Saturday every month) which is excellent and is proving to be a real crowd puller.

Started well and resulted in an increase in footfall but the shine has faded and some of the traders are going elsewhere despite Bescotts best efforts.

 

[The Hawk]

Started well and resulted in an increase in footfall but the shine has faded and some of the traders are going elsewhere despite Bescotts best efforts.

I think there's two main reasons the Wednesday market is failing:

1. Wednesdays were traditionally half-day closing in Stafford and some stores still close at lunchtime on this day. Consequently footfall has always tended to be lower on Wednesdays; and, perhaps more importantly;
2. the Wednesday market is the same old, same old. It offers very little that is different.

So, who is going to make a special trip for that.

 

[Feed The Goat]

A somewhat underwhelming breakfast at The Swan this morning followed by a stroll through the Wednesday Market (precious few stalls, chuggers outnumbering stallholders 3 to 1, and annoyingly shouty butcher) has brought it home to me that, apart from Caffe Nero and the Soup Kitchen, for meetings there is really precious little reason for me to come into Stafford any more.

I can get all I need from Cannock, without the traffic queues and their market on a Friday is really good (especially the noodle bar).

Shame, but there it is.

I hope that when our beloved council approved the Wednesday market idea, they imagined a traditional market vista rather than a 18 tonne truck with a foghorn butcher

 

[proactive]

I hope that when our beloved council approved the Wednesday market idea, they imagined a traditional market vista rather than a 18 tonne truck with a foghorn butcher

Council.

Imagination.

Oxymoron.

 

[Gramaisc]

I think there's two main reasons the Wednesday market is failing:

1. Wednesdays were traditionally half-day closing in Stafford and some stores still close at lunchtime on this day. Consequently footfall has always tended to be lower on Wednesdays; and, perhaps more importantly;
2. the Wednesday market is the same old, same old. It offers very little that is different.

So, who is going to make a special trip for that.

I will make special trip for any market that has a shouty meat man, but it will be a trip away from that location...

 

[littleme]

I will make special trip for any market that has a shouty meat man, but it will be a trip away from that location...

Fibber! You're always at that darn noisey car-boot, & its got a shouty-meat-man AND a shouty-veg-man!

 

[Gramaisc]

Fibber! You're always at that darn noisey car-boot, & its got a shouty-meat-man AND a shouty-veg-man!

When did you last hear a shouty meat/fruit/veg tosser there?

 

[littleme]

When did you last hear a shouty meat/fruit/veg tosser there?

Not for a while, I invested in some ear-plugs.

 

[tek-monkey]

Word on the f'book about imotion is that it will remain open and a buyer is in place

Is that def in place? Was hit and miss this time last week.

 

[bunique]

Is that def in place? Was hit and miss this time last week.

Came to us from an employee, so hopefully accurate for their sake

 

[c0tt0nt0p]

I hope that when our beloved council approved the Wednesday market idea, they imagined a traditional market vista rather than a 18 tonne truck with a foghorn butcher

"Come and get some BSE...a Bit of Something Extra"....

 

[Tilly]

Came to us from an employee, so hopefully accurate for their sake

As I understand it

Two separate offers have been placed on the business

Both rejected

As the instructors have not been paid for 2 months they or some have quit

But if you know better please advise

 

[Pooryorick]

Is this connected with Sandcroft Avenue Ltd?

 

[bunique]

As I understand it

Two separate offers have been placed on the business

Both rejected

As the instructors have not been paid for 2 months they or some have quit

But if you know better please advise

I don’t know “better” I just know what one member of staff had been told.

 

[Cue]

The Wednesday market is indeed very poor; I don't think it will last much longer. Contrast that with the Makers Market (3rd Saturday every month) which is excellent and is proving to be a real crowd puller.

Is the Wednesday one the market that is half local food (which, I might add, is generally nice) and homemade nick nacks and half people selling stuff they purchased in bulk? Saw a stall that was literally just selling scarfs once, didn’t even hide the Fruit of the Loom box they were getting them out of.

 

[Trumpet]

That's how retail works, buy goods in and sell on for more than you paid thereby making a living.

 

[Tilly]

That's how retail works, buy goods in and sell on for more than you paid thereby making a living.

Bastard


That was supposed to be a secret

 

[tek-monkey]

As the instructors have not been paid for 2 months they or some have quit

I heard the same, and it was from an instructor.