Old Oxfam book shop - 1/2 price rent
Since the crunch started to bite many local people have said that house prices won't go down around here. Some have also said that generally things won't be affected at all around here. Such complacency! Luckily, in Dorking we are not in reality living in such a fantasy bubble...
I think this recently happened at the old Photo Optix at Pump Corner, but now the unit that used to be occupied by Oxfam books is now advertised at half price rent for the first year. It is opposite the KFC, next to High Life and the offer is blatantly posted in the window.
Yes it is a sign of the current economic downturn, but it is still good to see that landlords' in Dorking are increasingly willing to lower rental values to try to occupy units.
Too many times in the past have we seen shops remaining empty for years because the landlord refuses to budge.
posted by The Cockerel @ 9:54 PM
9 Comments:
I am sorry but offering half price rent won't get perspective traders into Dorking. There is a real glut of empty commercial (retail)properties throughout the towns of Surrey and I cannot see people queuing up to take the former Oxfam book shop. The location is dire and nobody goes to that end of town unless they are looking for something to eat! It is completely dead. As for the former Photo Optix unit, it is in a good prime location but it must be a real headache for deliveries. I also see the former Dorking Tyre unit is offering flexible terms - whatever that means? It will be interesting to see how many shops survive in the New Year. In Leatherhead, we have already lost two estate agents (Mann & Andrew Lodge) and there is also a huge number of empty units.
Leatherhead Lip
Very concerned about the row after Mole Valley District Council agreed to earmark its Dorking headquarters as possible land for housing. The Pippbrook offices, in Reigate Road, have been included in the Mole Valley Local Development Framework Core Strategy, which sets out plans for future development in the district. However, if the strategy is implemented in 2009, the building and car park could be bulldozed to make way for a new housing development. The Lib Dems are strongly oppose the move stating if it was implemented that "it could turn Dorking into one huge housing estate with few facilities to serve the residents". They also went onto to say that Dorking "will have a substantial loss of employment and vital services, such as parking, at a central point within the town". (Surrey Advertiser 14/11/2008)
What do you think of these proposals bloggers?? I totally agree with the Lib Dems and think that these proposals are shambolic. There is no talk on the added pressure on Dorking's infrastructure - congested roads, waiting lists at the local schools, added pressure on medical facilities and it would be a complete disaster for this end of the town if the Council decided to relocate.
Also read (News and Ale Winter 2008 edition) Dorking: Malthouse - The pub has now shut, awaiting planned redevelopment, although rumours persist that it may re-open.
Any truth to these rumours? Could a 'gastro family restaurant/pub' open up? Or, is it just chinese whispers?
++Keith++
Will the library and the tennis courts stay put? Or will the library be developed and turned into flats and will the tennis courts be concreted over as well? It is an absolute disgrace that the council would even contemplate moving from their offices in Pippbrook. It is ideally located, offers local employment and if a new housing estate were to get the go ahead, it would create chaos in the town. The traffic is bad enough already, the schools cannot cope, the police are overstretched and the housing market is in freefall. Enough is enough. As for the Malthouse, the planning application was approved by MVDC for yet more flats. I guess the developer might be getting cold feet and the property market has taken a real plunge in the last couple of months. A decent pub would be ideal - one that does not have TV's in every nook and cranny and tries to create atmosphere by pumping up the volume of the music! A pub which does good traditional English food and desserts at reasonable prices - is that too much to ask for? Jo
Looks like the deal that Caffe Nero were due to open up shortly in the former Curry's unit has indeed fallen through! Take a look at the Martin Brown website and there sits the empty Curry's unit. Have looked at the Caffe Nero website and there is no mention of upcoming openings or new career opportunities in Dorking. So, I guess this unit will sit empty for quite a while thanks to the current economic climate.
With respect to Photo Optics closing, I wouldn't put that down just to the recession, but the institutionalised ineptitude of the staff. As a policy I try and support local traders, but in every attempt to give business to this shop, they have managed repeatedly to cock it up. It made me go elsewhere (The Interweb for better, cheaper and faster service) I can't have been alone in this experience.
Hello everyone, having lived in Dorking most of my life, I’m also really concerned about the amount of empty retail premises in the town. Coming at this from a different perspective, I run a recording studio and online store from offices just outside Reigate. We are looking at expanding our online store business (mainly selling DJ and Music related merchandise) by renting a small A1 premise and creating a vibrant and exciting space. So from a prospective trader point of view, my heart tells me we should seriously consider Dorking, but from a business point of view it is difficult to justify, especially after seeing well positioned retailers such as Origin not surviving.
To 'Prospective trader/musicman'; good to hear of your interest in expanding here and presumably you're checking things out with landlords, TCM, etc.. It would be interesting, for those of us who only see the results of problems for retailers, to know what the 'sticking points' are if you feel it's not worthwhile setting up in the town.
Please, please do not be put off by some of the negative comments on this site. Dorking is a great town and is a great place to open up your business. Take a look at the Martin Brown website, to see if there is a suitable premises for you. Quite a few are offering flexible terms and reduced rent for the first two years. A lot of the people who complain on this site, care deeply about this town and would welcome with open arms a business like yours. Good luck and please, please if possible, try to relocate to Dorking.
80's Man
To the guy who posted a comment a few previous, i think you'd be better of opening up a shop selling zimmer frames and mobility scooters cos this town is nothing but a over sized nursing home/village full of old grumblies that want to shop in oxfam and charity shops, you'd be better of staying on the internet, thats were the business is and you don't have to pay the snake like greedy bastard landowners/landlords
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