Everything to do with Shops

[SteveH]

Quote from: SteveH on December 04, 2019, 03:56:20 PM

A Restaurant chain wants Marks and Spencer site in Llandudno,
Plans have been submitted to transform the former Marks and Spencer store in Llandudno.
A plan is in from restaurant and bar chain Loungers      https://loungers.co.uk/       to sub-divide the site and create an eating place.

While it would be a loss of a retail space it would mean this large empty site is occupied - with jobs created.
A statement from D2 Planning said: "The unit has been vacant since M&S vacated on February 10 2018. The property has been marketed since then and no interest in retail has been received.   ref DP

Covenant negotiations are taking place to allow a former Marks and Spencer store in Llandudno to be turned into a restaurant.

Loungers (the interested company) was founded in 2002 by a trio of long standing friends, Dave Reid, Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop after years in the restaurant and bar trade.

The land itself is owned by St John Methodist Church, which is located next door, with the land let to property management company Burlington Capital 3.   ref DP

Rev Beverley Ramsden, minister at St John's, said in a planning letter: "There is a usage covenant on the land which Burlington Capital 3 are currently in negotiation with the church to modify.
"This negotiation is not yet concluded."

The church also outlined a number of concerns about the new development which included the noise impact, litter and restaurant customers using the church car park.

But Rev Ramsden added: "We are not against this planning application (and are actively working to modify the covenant on the land in order to support occupation of the premises) but we want to make sure that the subtenant's business does not cause issues for residents, other businesses and our church."

[SteveH]

Keep up to date with trends and look after your staff, and you can stay on the high st., and even open new stores.

Thousands of Greggs staff are set to get a £300 one-off payment after a "phenomenal year".

Sales growth had been helped by Greggs' "now iconic" vegan sausage rolls and strong demand for its traditional snacks, the bakery chain said.

Greggs staff will share a £7m payment after shareholders received a £35m special dividend in October.

The firm expects underlying annual pre-tax profit to be ahead of its expectations when it reports in March.

The 19,000 Greggs staff who have been with the chain since before 31 March will get a £300 windfall at the end of January, while the remaining 6,000 will get £75 for each quarter they have worked for Greggs.

The one-off payment to staff will be on top of the profit-sharing scheme that Greggs already has, a spokeswoman said. The bakery chain already shares 10% of profits with employees.   cont   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51034201

[SteveH]

ASDA said it will close its in-store meat and fish counters and replace them with something completely different.

The spaces left by these closing sections will be used for 'ready-to-eat' counters - and Asda has revealed it plans to sell 'food for now', including sushi, hot chicken and pies.

The new counters have been trialed in 13 stores over the last year, teaming up with brands such as Sushi Daily and Subway.
Counters will be in place in 150 stores by the end of the year.           ref DP

[Meleri]

An application has gone in yet again for The Old Post Office in Vaughan Street, Llandudno for change of use. The proposed shop will sell Trading cards, memorabilia, comic books, gaming accessories etc. There will also be an area serving food & drinks.

[SteveH]

Sudden closure of Llandudno store after several decades in business
Gimberts has been closed since the start of the year but customers have been left in the dark.

Gimberts - which stocked luxury jewellery and watches and had been well known for its fine china - has been in the seaside town for more than 40 years.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/sudden-closure-llandudno-store-after-17602962

[norman08]

Real shame another closed shop, think they did better in upper Mostyn st.

[SteveH]

Heard that the book shop in the Victoria centre is closing down, I think it is called News Stories,.... sad, ......but they have an offer of, a carrier bag of books for £10,....... you must be able to hold the bag by the handles.


You promote the best staff to management positions.................            more zero hour workers

Yesterdays news, Sainsbury's to cut hundreds of management jobs, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51196869

and today Morrisons supermarket axes 3,000 managers in huge shake-up, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51223217

[SteveH]

We have talked over the last few years about the reasons for shop closures, and the loss the High St. etc ,with todays posts (above) and the evening news that 57,000 jobs lost in retail in 2019, I think there is worse to come.

[Ian]

The curious thing is that unemployment is still standing at only 3.8%. If by some miracle all the shops suddenly reappeared, there wouldn't be enough people to operate them.

[SteveH]

Re post 2070 above

Marks and Spencer store restaurant and bar plan - planners deliver their verdict.

After considering the application planning offices have rejected the proposal.

They said that the design of the extraction and ventilation system would cause an "odour, smell and noise impact" on nearby residents.

This could see an appeal or new application submitted.              ref DP

[SteveH]

Discount retailer Poundstretcher is closing a store in North Wales.
The chain has announced it is shutting the shop in the Bay View Shopping Centre in Colwyn Bay.
“Unfortunately, due to increased occupational costs, the store is no longer viable and will be closing on Saturday the 22 of February.

The 'ghost road' at the heart of Colwyn Bay - and how it can be saved
Station Road was once at the centre of retail in the town but is now full of empty units.

"Rates dearer than rents"                      “This is better than having a street with lots of charity shops that don’t pay rates."

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/ghost-road-heart-colwyn-bay-17735845

[SteveH]

Superdrug is relocating its store off the high street in Llandudno.

The national retailer has announced it is closing the shop on Mostyn Street and moving to Parc Llandudno retail park.
It is due to close on February 20.

The good news is that they are taking on the former Bank clothing unit which has been empty since the store shut in 2015.

It is also understood that the Superdrug unit in the town centre will not be empty long.
Savers  https://www.savers.co.uk/   which has the same parent company as Superdrug - is tipped to take on the site, retaining the chemist facility at the site.

This will mean that the town centre will not have a prime site lying empty and that the shopping park will now be fully occupied.
ref DP

Savers has over 450 clean and contemporary, easy to shop stores, stocking a wide range of great value, branded, health, home and beauty products.

[Nemesis]

I like the description 'clean and contemporary' Recently Superdrug has got decidedly grubby. I also hope that the dispensary facility remains open as many people from the top end of town rely on it for prescriptions.

[SteveH]

I like the description 'clean and contemporary' Recently Superdrug has got decidedly grubby. I also hope that the dispensary facility remains open as many people from the top end of town rely on it for prescriptions.

I thought moving was a cost saving decision, but then they hope Savers will take over, so two shops in town ?

The article says "Savers - which has the same parent company as Superdrug - is tipped to take on the site, retaining the chemist facility at the site."  but no mention of prescription meds. on their web page.

Full article   https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/superdrug-moving-llandudno-high-street-17760578

[Ian]

It's really important that an alternative to Boots is kept available. There are precious few independents, now, so Boots will get the lot.