Woolworths - the last days
It was announced yesterday that all 800+ Woolworths stores will close by January 5th 2009, or some even late December.
This is sad news for the staff. I went into the Dorking store the other day and the staff were working twice as hard due to the massive increase in customers since the closing down sale was announced. It struck me that they will not get any extra for this.
Along with most other towns there will be a rush to get these stores occupied by another retailer early next year.
posted by The Cockerel @ 9:41 PM
5 Comments:
Hmmmm... Not quite sure who is going to rush in to take on that unit in these difficult times, especially as there is no end of choice in Dorking. Still no sign of movement on the Currys unit, which is smaller, I know.
Who would want to open a new shop in Dorking in 2009? Theo Paphitis? Poundland?
If only Woolworths had been owned by a massive Indian conglomerate that couldn't get easy credit, the Darling man would have written them a cheque! The rest of the world must be laughing their socks off at us.
Must dash, I'm off to buy a Jag!
Have heard on SKY news, less than 40% of the Woolworths out of 815 stores are under offer. Very worrying for the one in Dorking. Will it be sitting empty in the New Year or will some chain come in for it?? A sad day for Dorking when Woolworths shuts up shop for good. By the way, why is the government bailing out Jaguar at the expense of Woolworths??? Answers on a postcard c/o Gordon Brown, 10 Downing Street, London...
Looks like the Woolies in Dorking will be one of the first to go in the country. Will probably close on Boxing Day or December 27. Very sad to see this store close and where will mum's get good quality childrens' clothing at reasonable prices, CD's, DVD's, a great range of chocolates and pick n' mix? Jo
The closure of Woolworths in Dorking will be another further blow for a struggling High Street in a struggling town with the burden of a very weak economy. There has been the loss of large chains from the High street which is no fault of the town but there has also been a number of losses of independent individual traders whose businesses probably could have survived if they were in other towns that are coping with the current economy better than Dorking is. There has been many suggestions why Dorking is not doing well such as small shop units, congestion problems, bad town management etc but in my opinion the single by far most important factor is not having an anchor store to pull in the public.
The campaign by a few various local people to halt the development of Sainsburys has dealt the town the single biggest blow in recent years. In modern times the shopping public need a large store with plenty of choice, value and easy parking all under one roof. This store should have been allowed to go where St Martins walk is with a customer entrance from the High street and parking at the rear, it is proven that this formula is a success in many towns and adds to regeneration.
We now find ourselves in a situation that the town has inadequate shopping facilities thus not attracting the public with a shopping centre with something like 50% occupancy and the ever hanging threat of a supermarket being built further afield taking the few shoppers that come to the town even further away. The Dorking SOS have brought Dorking to it's knees, a once thriving town that could give any market town a run for it's money in commerce and beauty is now lacklustre and devoid of any individuality. Radical thinking and big changes are now needed to make this town what it once was.
Yes and no. In my opinion, mr Aonymous you make some valid points. But 'SOS bring Dorking to its knees' is way over the top. And only time will tell whether Tesco Express, Aldi etc have picked up Dorking Wollies anyway. I would suggest that there are many problems and contributing factors that have taken Dorkers down.. parking, traffic, weak and inflexible management etc. JSainsbury are ALSO AS GUILTY AS ANYBODY and to blame with their refusal to let out units in St. Martins Walk with a lease longer than two years and at nothing less than an extortionate rent for exapmle 28k for the ex-Nitingales shop plus service charge plus biz rates. St. Martins Walk could be a serious pull to the town if it were handled and managed properly by NB Real Estates. But in my humble opinion Mr. Anonymous, it is without doubt the basic road infrustructure that has been turned upside down by Surrey Highways that has precipitated the demise of Dorkers, making it an undesireable location to travel to. For example it now takes 10 minutes to get into town from the Dorking Halls end. Why? Because we have traffic lights that cause a tailback of traffic along the Hight St and another set of lights that are not sequenced properly before you can even enter the town, that exacerbate the problem. And dont talk to me about Vincent Lane and that set of lights on the Guildford Road at the other end of town!!!! South Street as an antique attraction has slowly lost its draw as antiques have fallen out of favour.
Mr Anonymous, get the basic infrustructure right to start with. Yes a fancy supermarket would be nice..but not at the expense of 3 years of construction hell, bringing Dorkers REALLY to its knees (on top of St. Martins Walk as you said??). Dorkers can be turned around, but JS doing that to our town....NO WAY!!!!! I have nothing to do with SOS but honestly, i would fight tooth and nail to stop that happening.. what you are advocating. Merry Christmas to you nontheless!
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