Pound Shop, St Martins Walk
I don't know the name of it so will call it the 'Pound Shop'. Anyway it has recently closed. It was the shop at the lower end of the shopping centre and it will probably re-appear in November as the unit will probably still be vacant. It sold all sorts of low priced household items and gimmicks - a sort of market in a shop.
When the shopping centre opened Tandy (the electrical store) occupied that unit. Since then I think the only semi-permanent tenant has been Shrewd, which incidently has now moved to the high street. It is another of those outlets that you only wish they would lower the rent, if only to keep it occupied during the spring and summer.
posted by The Cockerel @ 11:57 PM
4 Comments:
According to this weeks Surrey Advertiser (3rd March) Love 2 Read, at the end of St. Martin's Walk, is the latest shop to close in Dorking. The bookseller, is to shut up shop after just six months of trading. Apparently, independent booksellers across the area are facing a growing threat to their livelihood with mounting competition from book chains and the internet. The lady in charge of the shop, Lou Parr, also believes that there is not enough interest and support for the independent shops in Dorking. I have to agree with her as I have said numerous times before, that Dorking Town Management are not bothered with the independent shops in Dorking and would rather that the whole town was taken over by loads of chain stores.
I believe that there are many people have often thought of opening a shop of some kind in Dorking. It is only when they see the exorbitant rental values that it becomes apparent that you have to be very wealthy before you start.
Rumours that a further two to three shops will close in the next couple of months in St Martins Walk (SMW)! Went to Farnham at the weekend and it was really buzzing! It is a very similar sort of town to Dorking and their parking was very expensive compared to ours ie. 1hr - 60p, 2hrs - £1.20, 3hrs - £1.80 etc. So, why is Farnham buzzing while Dorking flounders?? Their shopping centre which is a similar size to SMW, is all fully let and has a great combination of independent and chain stores. My guess is that town manager of Farnham promotes the town extensively whilst our town centre manager, just sits back and watches more and more shops close, relocate etc. One last thing about Farnham their pubs are cheaper there as well ie. pint of Guinness (Farnham) £2.70, (Dorking) £3-£3.20. My feeling is there is a great deal of price fixing going on in the pubs of Dorking, which makes it one of the most expensive places to drink in England!
Where is everyone???? The Dorking Blog has gone incredibly quiet this week - very little postings, comments etc. Valid point above with regards to the high price of alcohol in Dorking compared to the rest of Surrey, south east etc. Another shop closed today (Saturday 11 March) -- The Thomson Travel Shop which is on the High Street near Origin, Going Places etc.
What about the issues affecting Dorking? -- the proposed incinerators in Capel, Brockham, Leatherhead etc. The proposed Sainsbury's superstore in St. Martins Walk, revised parking charges, proposed controlled parking zones (CPZ)- residents parking only in Jubilee Terrace, Ansell, Hart and Wathen Roads as well as Lincoln Road (near the train stn.), another increase in the Council Tax, the non-existant policing in Dorking town centre etc.??
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