Whitgift Shopping Centre Croydon

MrsE_2

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

You must be very close to me then!

I'm in the borough of Tandridge

[Deleted User]

Sounds like Godstone to me

Alan_M_2

Oooh, we're all neighbours.

We'll be arranging MSE [STRIKE]rants[/STRIKE] meetings in the Hare and Hounds next......:rolleyes:

fc123

mewbie wrote: »

Brilliant timing on the parking charges there - some jobsworth should get promoted for that. How about free parking and keep business going - no point in paying for parking if there's no shops left.

The best one was the bean counter who relocated 90% of the council office staff from around the corner (from a trad, big Victorian council building) to deepest, darkest Hove from Oct 07 through to last summer. 1000's of them.
There were rumours that they are going to lease the space to a hotel....but only a rumour.

The impact was big on some of us (but not all) as we had a lot of 'everyday, ordinarywear' type of trade from them.

Along with a Lloyds call centre moving (to become a J Oliver restaurant) and a large recruitment firm, the micro economic impact was pretty big for some of us. The added extra of the credit crunch didn't help either.

Quarter day is weds week........we will see who stays and who doesn't.


We don't get that many visitors at this time of year but some are already complaining...........where have all the interesting shops gone? Then they grab a Starbucks, use a 2 4 1 coupon in Pizza Express or Cafe Rouge and go home after a day out at the Real Life Retail Theme Park.

I hope the above doesn't sound bitter because I am straining at the leash to move on at the mo....but a lot of my neighbours don't seem to quite get it....they are all blaming the drop in trade solely on the Cr Cr......it was the add on IMO.

DaisyClaire

Oh my god......does the Whitgift Centre still have the 'little' Sainsburys?
I remember when it only had one tier!!

A._Badger

I can't say any drop in trade in Croydon is to be wondered at - it's an intimidating, hideous place packed to the gunwhales with... just about everything you will find in every other identikit shopping centre anywhere and not a lot else. It also has more than its share of feral yoof, which adds to the oppressive feel.

When I lived in South London, I'd often jump on a train and visit Brighton instead - mostly for that bit of soul fc123 writes about.

The way she tells it (and I believe her) Brighton will eventually kill the one thing that sets it apart - its unique character. .

SouthCoast

Montague Street, Worthing is/was one of the premier shopping streets in West Sussex. Western end is a wasteland.

fc123

A._Badger wrote: »

I can't say any drop in trade in Croydon is to be wondered at - it's an intimidating, hideous place packed to the gunwhales with... just about everything you will find in every other identikit shopping centre anywhere and not a lot else. It also has more than its share of feral yoof, which adds to the oppressive feel.

When I lived in South London, I'd often jump on a train and visit Brighton instead - mostly for that bit of soul fc123 writes about.

The way she tells it (and I believe her) Brighton will eventually kill the one thing that sets it apart - its unique character. .

I am SE London too

There are enough indies trading in their own freeholds (owned outright or with low enough outstanding mortgages) to keep a bit of character in each part of town.

Others have sizeable wholesale business behind them and internet sales so the Real Life store is just a hobby and incidental to the whole business.

The jewellery quarter has plenty of longstanding traders that have already paid off their home mortgages, raised their kids and don't need to earn much from the business anymore. Problem with that is that young, new businesses won't take them over as they can't raise a family and buy a home on £10k profit pa.

And, this is not specific to Brighton (as I have owned shops in 2 areas of London) but some shops are not what they seem from the outside.

In my time I have known owners to prop up a creative enterprise by selling illegal things in their spare time.....to keep the dream going. I knew one company who T/O 1 million on the core business and 7 million on 'something else'. I heard it from the book keeper. True or not? Who knows....

There are also a few hobby shops...wealthy family, bored wife potters around her 'business' because it's fun...doesn't have to pull in much cash to keep it ticking over.

My shop is not a hobby nor a vocation and I don't do illegal anything so it's got to pay for itself. If it don't pay, it goes. Simple.

My premises should be an Ye Olde Tea Shoppe....all the other shops like ours went 3 or 4 years back.

astonsmummy

MrsE wrote: »

I thought you grew up in Acre Lane?

No I was born in St Thomas' hospital, lived just off acre lane till I was 5 then moved to Deadhill.