Whitgift Shopping Centre Croydon

Alan_M_2

Years since I've been there, I generally shop locally or in Crawley but we decided to go to Croydon today for a change of scenery.

Boy was it quiet, but more noticeable were the number of empty shops available.

I've never seen occupation so low in the Whitgift centre shop after shop available to let. The upper tier of shops (close to Lyons Jewellers if you know it) was close to 50% occupation. Lots of retail businesses gone, not a pretty picture business up there.

fc123

Come to Brighton instead...it still has little pockets of soul.

Only snag is you are better off coming by train...parking charges going up near me from 80p per hr tp £2.40 pr hr.

Sir_Humphrey

Alan_M wrote: »

Years since I've been there, I generally shop locally or in Crawley but we decided to go to Croydon today for a change of scenery.

George Street is particularly bad at the moment. I shop in Croydon fairly regularly as it is convenient for me, and it has seemed quiet recently, particularly on Sundays.

rlc22

Alan_M wrote: »

Years since I've been there, I generally shop locally or in Crawley but we decided to go to Croydon today for a change of scenery.

Boy was it quiet, but more noticeable were the number of empty shops available.

I've never seen occupation so low in the Whitgift centre shop after shop available to let. The upper tier of shops (close to Lyons Jewellers if you know it) was close to 50% occupation. Lots of retail businesses gone, not a pretty picture business up there.

I've not been to Croydon for a while, but aren't you seeing similar in Crawley too?

County Mall is beginning to look a bit like a ghost town - every time I go I'm quite shocked that there seem to be more closing down signs.

I find it all quite sad, although I know that I am guilty of buying most things online or in the supermarkets so it's people like me that cause these things to happen.

Zagu

I went to the Whitgift a couple of years ago, and though it was quiet then, both in the lack of customers and vacant shops. I also thought it was remarkably dated. I expected to see a Wimpy restaurant.

AnnaMonkey

Croydon was slightly quieter on Saturday too, and bigger shops such as the Disney store and SofaWorkshop have gone too. Though I heard SW may be going under so that'd explain that one.
I like the lack of crowds but not if all the shops are going to go!

sideysid

Zagu wrote: »

I expected to see a Wimpy restaurant.

Wimpy's round the corner on George St

After being away travelling for over a year and a half, I can definitley see the difference in how much more quiter Croydon has become, and it still seems very surreal being back!

I think the newer (not sure of the name) shopping center down the high st must have taken a lot of Whitgifts custom though.

Sir_Humphrey

sideysid wrote: »

Wimpy's round the corner on George St

After being away travelling for over a year and a half, I can definitley see the difference in how much more quiter Croydon has become, and it still seems very surreal being back!

I think the newer (not sure of the name) shopping center down the high st must have taken a lot of Whitgifts custom though.

Centrale is not exactly overrun either. The only new shop I've seen in Croydon is Clas Ohlson, which caters for DIY and the suchlike (it is rather good IMHO).

Alan_M_2

I was in Centrale and noticed a few had gone (Timberland), those left in their are the usual massive corporations that can afford the huge overheads.....NEXT, Panasonic Store, Sony Store, McDonalds, TKMaxx...no "Real" shops....

House of Fraser was simply a ghost town......

Alan_M_2

rlc22 wrote: »

I've not been to Croydon for a while, but aren't you seeing similar in Crawley too?

County Mall is beginning to look a bit like a ghost town - every time I go I'm quite shocked that there seem to be more closing down signs.

I find it all quite sad, although I know that I am guilty of buying most things online or in the supermarkets so it's people like me that cause these things to happen.

Too true...even the Belfry Centre in Redhill is looking ominously quiet and empty.

On a personal level I'm renegotiating my lease with my existing landlord. They just need to be realistic, there are now so many empty commercial units available there are some cracking deals about.

Alan_M_2

fc123 wrote: »

Come to Brighton instead...it still has little pockets of soul.

Only snag is you are better off coming by train...parking charges going up near me from 80p per hr tp £2.40 pr hr.

I always prefer real shops to the chains that simply sell the same thing for the same price all over the country.....The trouble is real shops became non viable due to silly rents, as you well know....

I like day out at the coast and I really don't like shopping centres...but as Mrs M has Multiple Sclerosis, the benefits of being in doors with everything in one place when you have a wheelchair outweighs choice and variety, although I do venture into London when I want something special...

Bluewater is not my idea of a nice day out, but it's practical.......I was having a chat with a rates valuer that came to my warehouse last week, He'd come from Bluewater after just re rating one of the concessions in their that was paying £6,500pa per sq/m in rent! How on earth do they make money? Is the passing trade that much?