Some of the ones by Parkway are being refurbed, not sure if they have been let. In general, Newbury is quite healthy at present, although there will be a few empty shops after Parkway open (Barclays, Fat Face etc.).
Possibly because we often hear the doom and gloom stories from some members on here about how Northbrook street will be empty apart from a few charity shops when Parkway opens.
The thing to keep an eye on will be how quickly the units being vacated by Parkway tenants are let again, and for how long.
I think this a great idea by User, we now have a yard stick to judge things by.
As he pointed out, at the begining of October 2011 Northbrook Street shop premises are pretty much full. The shopkeepers will be looking forward to Christmas, getting new stock in, thinking about maybe employing extra staff, decorating the shop, etc etc. Hoping to make up, if possible, for a pretty lean year with perhaps a good Christmas season take.
No 3 (ex Dorothy Perkins) and the former Next shop are to let - though they do have temporary tenants at present (charity shop and an xmas bazaar).
No 41 (next to Specsavers) and No 46 (between Blockbuster and Casino Slots) are vacant.
No 70 (next to Ladbrokes) and the old Early Learning Centre are vacant (though there does seem to be activity that might indicate they have a tenants for these two).
Then there are the three at the Parkway entrance (East St). The one to the south seems to be getting window displays advertising Parkway, The two to the north (ex-Rymans and its neighbour) seem well short of coming back into use.
No 3 (ex Dorothy Perkins) and the former Next shop are to let - though they do have temporary tenants at present (charity shop and an xmas bazaar).
No 41 (next to Specsavers) and No 46 (between Blockbuster and Casino Slots) are vacant.
No 70 (next to Ladbrokes) and the old Early Learning Centre are vacant (though there does seem to be activity that might indicate they have a tenants for these two).
Then there are the three at the Parkway entrance (East St). The one to the south seems to be getting window displays advertising Parkway, The two to the north (ex-Rymans and its neighbour) seem well short of coming back into use.
ex Dorothy Perkins is a charity shop now, isn't it?
ex Dorothy Perkins is a charity shop now, isn't it?
Yes - as I noted in my post. However, as I also wrote, it is still available to let (unless the board attached to it is in error) - so I assume the charity shop is only temporary. Which is a shame, it's got the best range of secondhand books in town.
Yes - as I noted in my post. However, as I also wrote, it is still available to let (unless the board attached to it is in error) - so I assume the charity shop is only temporary. Which is a shame, it's got the best range of secondhand books in town.
However I was in there a couple of weeks ago and when asked, the person serving described the charity as a "family run business". The narrow focus of it looks iffy to me.
However I was in there a couple of weeks ago and when asked, the person serving described the charity as a "family run business". The narrow focus of it looks iffy to me.
Still has the best selection of 2nd hand books in town - and very cheap. I guess it would put me off if it was a family business masquerading as a charity - but is it?
Though you may wish to include Cotton Traders (strictly it's Bridge St) and Jones the Bootmaker (going v soon), it's much better when Woolies left a gaping hole.
Crew Clothing and Hawkins Bazaar are both opening shortly, and both came from them rejecting Parkway, though they had been looking at Newbury for some time.
The theory behind all this is that with Newbury moving up the retail rankings, every time a shop closes, there'll be another national retailer waiting in the wings, because they want to be in the top 200 trading locations in the country (we were 180th before the Vision).