Empty City Centre Shops

It was interesting to hear recently about steps taken to brighten up the facades of the empty city centre shops. What a great idea. In case you didn’t know, local photographers have linked up with a Chester Business Group to take on this assignment.

Empty City Centre Shops

Empty City Centre Shops – picture provided by Chester Standard

This new initiative is aimed at promoting the city centre as an attractive retail and hospitality location. As it is probably the biggest ‘eyesore’, the scheme has commenced with sprucing up the ex-BHS frontage. Certainly the BHS site is at the forefront of the empty city centre shops issue.

Working alongside local photographers, the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) will display images across the front of the old BHS site. These images of course will be images that will portray the city centre in a positive light. As already mentioned this is a great idea.

In case you didn’t know, the aim of CH1 Chester BID is that they look to improve the economic health of our city centre. They aim to do this in several ways. For instance, by increasing footfall and generally creating a cleaner, greener city centre. In short, providing a marketing campaign for the city and its businesses, as well as improving the visitors experience. Funding for such activities comes from the businesses themselves.

What Else Can Be Done?

However, as good as the idea is, are these measures enough though? The reason I ask this reminds me of an earlier post on here last month. Local resident, David Jamieson, sent me this thought provoking article. If you haven’t read it, you can see it – The High Street – again HERE. In fact, you really should read it. Some very interesting points in it. I particularly like the short term possibilities.

Not mentioned in David’s post, you could add festivals and events to his list. Premises as large as BHS may well be ideal for a weekend event or festival of some sort. A Comic Collectors Fair for instance? Being a huge footie fan myself, how much interest would there be in something like a weekend Football Memorabilia Fair. I’d be there in a flash like the proverbial ‘kid in a sweet shop’, as I’m sure many others would be.

I have also been known to have a cheeky little half or two of cask beer now and then. What about a weekend beer festival? Gin tasting? Wine tasting? Employment fairs? And so on.

I’m sure there are many other options. I would steer away from things like food events though. You wouldn’t want to look at options that detract away from the already struggling independents, such as the numerous Chester Market stalls.

I don’t know (nor does David as far as I am aware), if any of the suggestions are viable. At least some of these ideas would generate some return – albeit, possibly short term – to offset the initial costs of implementing some of these measures.

Build Up To Christmas

After all there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of short term calendar shops and £5 shops popping up on short term lets before Christmas. As suggested above, there may well be several ideas that could be set up with a minimum of fuss and cost. This would not put off any long term interested parties either I wouldn’t have thought. Quite the opposite probably.

If any were implemented, this of course wouldn’t take away from the facade images idea either.

A Combination Of Ideas

In fact how effective could they be working in tandem? If the images idea is to showcase the city centre and those particular properties, then what better way to further enhance the exposure by being able to access the premises to see an actual working business model utilising the facilities. This would also illustrate to any potential long term interested parties, how popular Chester is and the potential footfall numbers.

And what about the knock on effects – increased custom for cafe’s, restaurants, pubs, the market etc.

Something Different

In recent years there has been much criticism of how Chester city centre is losing out to other locations. For instance, Broughton Retail Park, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire Oaks and also, maybe to a lesser extent, Liverpool. One of the criticisms for the decline in Chester city centre retail numbers has been the car parking situation.

How many potential customers think it’s easier to jump on a Merseyrail at just over £5.00 for a return ticket and visit Liverpool with all it has to offer – Liverpool One and some great city centre shops – instead of trying to find car parking in Chester at prices far greater than a £5.00 train fare. And fewer retail options available.

It may be that the powers-that-be in Chester’s retail sector need to think outside the box. Utilising properties like the old BHS and Disney World to mention another sizeable location could be worth a consideration.

We live within walking distance of the city centre but to be honest, trips in are becoming less and less frequent. Only a few weeks ago I had a look at a planning application notice in the window of a small property in the city centre.

Hoping to see an application for something unique, or quirky, it was a bit disappointing to see that the application was for another coffee shop. Nothing against coffee shops and no disrespect to any of them, but taking a trip into the city centre to consider another coffee shop is not that appealing.

Food For Thought

Maybe some of the options suggested are food for thought maybe. In the meantime, the images facade idea though will at least provide local residents a pleasant alternative view to the ugly looking, run down building scenario we were confronted with previously. Yes, it’s good to see that the empty city centre shops issue is being addressed in some way.

Those Not Affected

We have discussed the disappearance of some of the ‘biggies’ – e.g. BHS and Disney World. One of the reasons for the disappearing act locally – and already touched on – is the parking situation. However, nationally, one of the reasons put forward is modern technology. In other words, the internet. Is that an all too easy option though? Yes, of course it has made a big impact, but there is a suggestion that it goes beyond that.

One consideration that may be offered is the type of product or service on offer. Which brings me back onto coffee shops. I don’t know how many have opened and subsequently closed in recent years. I sincerely hope all those currently flooding the city centre flourish and continue to do so. But if they don’t, you can’t blame the internet can you. More empty city centre shops to contend with as a result.

Has anyone ever thought how some type of products or services don’t ever seem to be affected? I mean you rarely see a bookie closing their doors on the High Streets do you. These are hugely affected by the internet as well. And there are the…erm….ahem…cough…cough…splutter….shops that you never see anyone go in.

If you do happen to do so, caps are pulled down and coat collars are pulled up. You know who you are!!!

Joking apart though. I can think of two. One in Station Road and another in Brook Street. Not knocking these shops either. They obviously have regular punters, as they seem to have been open for donkeys years. This industry is under pressure from the internet as well. So, what’s their secret? Maybe they can tell us.

Variety Is The Spice Of Life

This phrase may well also apply to our second example in the last paragraph. But apart from them and completely on the flipside to the regular closure of so many retail outlets, there are certain local retailers that seem to survive come what may.

Take a bow Lee Louise, Bizarre, Pink and Grey and Abakhan to name just four I can think of. There’s probably more that currently slip my mind. The ones I have mentioned have been around for donkeys years.

I remember the very young Lee and Louise drinking in the Golden Eagle back in the late 70’s/early 80’s when they first opened their store. That’s how long they’ve been around. (By the way, you must try and catch their brother, the excellent musician Mark Henderson, performing locally. Mark’s been around for many years and it is well worth seeing him perform).

What is the reason for their successes? No doubt they have had their ups and downs, but credit where credit is due, they have found the right formula somehow. Not sure what it might be. When you look at their businesses it would seem that they could all be in competition with the internet themselves.

But they have managed to find something else. It may be that they own their premises so there’s no heavy handed landlord to be worried about. Or, they have a more understanding landlord than those that have gone to the wall.

Looking beyond the premises aspect though I would like to think that one of the main reasons for their success is the nature and the quality of their products. Grey and Pink for instance, selling their vinyl records in Brook Street are legends in Chester. Top quality products at reasonable prices. And something different as well. That I think is a major, secret ingredient.

No Magic Bullet

Clearly there is no magic bullet. I feel it is imperative though that the powers that be do all they can to assist any retail outlet. Otherwise the plague of the empty city centre shops will continue to escalate.

Well done to “CH1 Chester BID” for their initiative. Let’s hope the venture has the desired effect and very soon our city centre is returned to what it should be – a full retail occupancy and zero empty city centre shops.

In Other News

Apart from taking a look at our empty city centre shops issue what else is there to report?

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