Another one gone - Shops closing in Stafford

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shoes

Well-Known Forumite
And again from me, exceptionally good food and outstanding value for money, particularly Sun-Thur.
 

ChrisLewis

Well-Known Forumite
Two new looks, too many coffee shops too many pound shops, too many charity shops,

Where has our town gone would be nice to put some life back into it. Hopefully the (old) co-op will open up as a huge shop, the talk of the old riverside site being turned into a big shop and the morrisons will help! X

I just wonder if there is the danger of existing retailers just relocating into the proposed new "riverside development" leaving the north end of the town and Guildhall empty? Because if the weather continues as is, won't most people prefer an under cover new shopping centre? Or will they still support a High Street full of individual retailers?
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I left Southampton just before a new (very large) development opened. Apparently that is what happened there, many big names just relocated to the new centre. Not been back in over a decade so no idea how its going.

People will support a diverse high street I'm sure, but we'd need it diverse immediately. If people wait to open shops the rest of the high street will decline, making opening a new place less viable to start with. The only way I can see this happening is low rents and very reduced rates, at present the high street is a bit too expensive for anyone starting out. TBH I think it will die back a lot, and the heart of the town migrate towards the new centre. A shame, but the internet prices many people out of even starting.
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Well the south end does need something, many are forgetting how that looks right now. The north end has always had new look, m&s, monsoon, co-op, Burton's, Dorothy perkins, accessorize, sports direct. That side of town has been anchored for so long a town needs this at both ends and it is up to the local councils, landlords and shops to sort it and get it right.
New look would be a mistake to move with the north end getting more housing and Morrison's coming and they are represented in the south already.
Can assure you all that tesco on the stone rd is not by accident Tesco have been cute and clever about it and are also in talks to take on a unit at staffs place.
Although new look are looking at losing towns with 2 stores to be honest.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Tesco are expanding to ensure they have a delivery network for store pickups, even more important now amazon will deliver to the co-op. The tesco local stores themselves are not that cheap really, nothing to entice you in.
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
WH Smith has been in decline for years. The current shop in Stafford is a terrible mess especially with the main town centre Post Office upstairs. I rarely use it now and only use that particular Post Office if absolutely necessary.
 

basil

don't mention the blinds
WH Smith has been in decline for years. The current shop in Stafford is a terrible mess especially with the main town centre Post Office upstairs. I rarely use it now and only use that particular Post Office if absolutely necessary.
Spot on there, take out the PO and the endless offering of celebrity chef/wannabe/politico/footballer type dirge then there inna a lot left.......
 

Lee87

A few posts under my belt
Last time I went there both the food and the service were awful.

Don't forget there is the Posthouse, Swan, Bear Grill, Pizza Express, Soup Kitchen, Pastiche, The Vine etc etc where you can eat, so not exactly a shortage :)
bella is better then any off thm places, foods much betta so jog on
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
bella is better then any off thm places, foods much betta so jog on

Only been the one time a couple of years ago for a birthday celebration and couldn't believe how bad and miserable the service was .Never been since! When the food did actually come the portions were tiny and we all only had the one drink each as requests for service were rudely ignored.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Pretty sure it used to be bella pasta? And before that it was mainly a pizza place (my mate worked there back then, maybe 18 years ago?). IIRC when it changed hands (i.e. rebranded) that time Karim from Pizza Plus had the old pizza tins off them.

Not that it matters, I went in its last incarnation and didn't like it. I suspect many did the same or it wouldn't be closing.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Yu
yes they buy all there ingredients from lidal as i no sumone that use to work there.


Lidl sell better stuff than most other supermarkets! Lots of businesses shop there, especially pubs. Maybe you should be asking how a business that apparently buys all their stuff from Lidl attracts more customers than Bella Whatsit can? Businesses don't close because they are better, they close because they are worse. Or they fail to attract customers for another reason, but so far very few people have said they've had a good meal at Bella Bullshit.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
I
its bella italia not pasta
You are of course correct. The confusion for me arose around simply having it logged in my memory as That Awful Place We Went To. The experience is far more important and stays longer in the memory than the name. :)
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
Yu
yes they buy all there ingredients from lidal as i no sumone that use to work there.
And what exactly is wrong with LIDL (not lidal) ?

Perhaps if the staff that worked there (Bella Pasta then Bella Italia) concentrated more on their appalling customer service and less on getting hammered and making sure they got their own meals during their shift, then it wouldn't be closing!

And yes, I used to KNOW (not no) SOMEONE (not sumone) who USED (not use) to work there (Bella Italia not Vievre) :)
 
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