What would you like to see happen to all the empty shops?

Lunar Scorpion

Anarchy in the UK
For those of you who have no idea what's going on in the world, read the front page article of the Stafford Post a couple of weeks ago: 'Town trade fears'.

My question is, what would you like to see in those empty units? What would make Stafford somewhere people might actually consider spending their money?

Also, would Stafford Chat have been more appropriate? I wasn't sure which one to put it in so I did eeny meany miney moe...



Admin edit: moved to Stafford Chat :)
 

Doctor

Well-Known Forumite
A decent wine merchant
An interesting delicatecen
An independent book shop
A gallery with real art to buy
A bike shop to compete with Burtons (higher price range)
 

Mrs M

Well-Known Forumite
Like doc's idea of a decent delicatessen,also one of 'those freaky little New Age/Pagan shops' as scorpion puts it. I used to work in John Mottrams years ago and for those of you who don't remember it it was an oldie worldy shop that sold gifts, jewellery, second hand silver, china and crystal (not the cheap stuff either) and it was a great shop. Haunted too, but that's another story. It was opposite Mc D's and was from Bon Marche to the end of the shops at the rear. It would be nice to see something like that again.
 

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
I definatly think independent shops should be encouraged - cheaper rates - that kind of thing.
 

gon2seed

(and me! - Ed)
I'm with wormella, local/independant.

We would all have to support them though!

Do I support independants/locals now?..........

exit gon2seed stage left, red faced, tail between legs.
 

Mrs M

Well-Known Forumite
Wonder what the Stafford Maffia have to say about it all, (Messrs Delgarno, Heenan, Heenan and puppeteer Mr Sandy). It's like a shoppers graveyard. It's disgracefull that what once a thriving market town has come to this. It has probably been brought up many times but the old indoor market was so much better than what they have now in the guildhall. That was when the town had character.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I never go into town anymore, apart from to drink. There isn't a single shop that sells anything I want, that I can't buy off their website. Do we even have any independant shops left? There are a few places in the market I suppose, but the other problem is Saturday is the only day I can go into town anyway and its always taken over by chavvy kids.
 

CornishJon

Well-Known Forumite
My Staffordian friends you have been starved of good Cornish Pasties for to long, so i think we should do somthing about this and get a Pasty shop sorted!
 

MISS T

Forum user & abuser
The former TSB branch on Gaolgate St is opening as Three Mobile, cos we need another phone shop. :grr: The other half of the unit is to be converted for a new Betfred shop.
 

Mrs M

Well-Known Forumite
I know it isn't the best thing that the town needs but I tried to get my doughnuts into the town centre but apparently they only allow three and a half licences in the town centre. One the potato man one for the flower man one mr sizzle and the half being the ice cream man(as he is only there six months in the year). They will not allow trading in any other part of the town either. I have a lovely unit too so it's not llike it would bring down the character of the town either. I wonder what else has been turned away?
 

Andreas Rex

Banned for smiling
MISS T said:
The former TSB branch on Gaolgate St is opening as Three Mobile, cos we need another phone shop. :grr:
I know we already have far too many phone shops, but for anyone on 3, such as myself, this is proper convenient. This can't be compared to the coffee shop situation in Stafford, cos you can get a coffee in any of them, however I can't go into the Orange shop and ask them to sort me phone out.
 

rich upsetter

Cuffy is the new skill
the best shop in stafford in terms of suiting the county/market town angle and for tourist purposes is the olde sweet shoppe up mcdonalds alley. if we had more shops in a similar vein it would be great, deli shops etc. and particulary shops selling local produce.
i could have a rant about the council, but ill just say that they are definitly culpable in the current state of the town centre, with ridiculous rates, and no discounts or incentives, or even help for local independents. the fact that they fork out over 10 grand or similar for a full page advert in virgin trains magazine for stafford as a shopping destination and actually have the nerve to use the headline 'Stafford - Shop til you drop!' speaks volumes.
 

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
I'd almost forgotten about Mr. Simms sweet shop. I'll add it to the map. As it goes I actually find Stafford handy for most things we need, and we're mindful of supporting local businesses where possible (fish from Parkers, Veg from County Stores, cooking stuff from Kirklands etc). You all seem quite complacent but you should be glad of having these shops around you - your really are quite spolit.
 

Mrs M

Well-Known Forumite
Wormella said:
I'd almost forgotten about Mr. Simms sweet shop. I'll add it to the map. As it goes I actually find Stafford handy for most things we need, and we're mindful of supporting local businesses where possible (fish from Parkers, Veg from County Stores, cooking stuff from Kirklands etc). You all seem quite complacent but you should be glad of having these shops around you - your really are quite spolit.
Spoilt! Well, I suppose we could just eat fish and veg with fruit or sweets for afters. At least the Stoke company Kirklands would provide us with something to cook it in. If we are to support our locals that is. How can you say we are spoilt when our local shops, like Booklands, Bagnalls, Hindleys, John Mottrams are all disappearing, there are no butchers shops left. Lets hope Hudsons isn't next. I'm surprised the charity shops can afford to present themselves. How are we spoilt with a poulterers/fishmongers, a fruit and veg shop and a sweet shop?
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Don't charity shops get tax breaks? They always used to open up when another shop couldn't afford to keep going, always wondered how. Are there no butchers left in town now? I always used to use the one at the back of Woolworths when we had BBQs, but that went long ago.

I use Tesco for almost everything now, which is what people say is killing off all the smaller shops. The problem is, I was happy using places like that butchers but they closed. Also, as I don't drive, if its not within easy walking distance I'm not going to use it. The butcher on the Sandon road is great, but its an hour round trip for me to walk there.

The only thing I don't use Tesco for is clothes, they are either purchased online (usually from the US, cheaper) or from TK Maxx if I have some spare time. Only reason they get my business is because they open late during the week, so I am actually able to shop there. We have to accept this town is becoming nothing but a commuter town, if people aren't here 9-5 mon-fri then how can they use the shops?
 

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
Hey - I'm a newcomer here, I'm not talking about what used to be. From what I see now you still have butchers, fishmongers, bakeries, veg shops in the centre of town - not to mention the market. A art supply shop, framing shops, haberdashery, camping shops.

I lived in the centre of Liverpool for 3 years - there was none of this - we had to use the little Tesco or Sainsbury in the town (the expensive ones full of ready meals and no actual ingredients). There was a market but primarily it sold trainers and hand bags - not much in the way of food. There was one or two delicatessents but they increasingly sold faddy things (multi coloured pasta and £8 a bar chocolates etc), not proper food or ingredients.

It is possible to do your weekly shop in town - but Tek Monkey does raise a good point when he says it's inconvenient if you work 9-5, but town is bustling on a Saturday, especially if it's a farmers market (2nd Saturday of the month) - but it will only stay that way if people use it. We do use Supermarkets too - but we try and balance what we buy. If we can get it in town, then we will.
 
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