Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:Was told earlier that Greggs are not now re-opening in St James, which I find surprising as it was doing well before being forced to close.
Howard,
IF it was doing well as you claim i.e. turning a decent % profit on investment it would re-open. It's what business does.
I wonder who is next for 'flooring problems'?
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
They were doing well after a slow start Bob, I used to go in or go past during the middle of the day and always a queue to get served and a lot of tables taken. This was before many units had opened, could be the rent and business rates were too high for the takings?
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
Precisely Howard. Sales are only part of the sums any business has to do. I'll repeat what I've said before.
If I was offered a retail space in Dover (and most other local towns) rent and business rates free, I honestly can't think of what I would sell in the hope of making anything near the national median wage over a year.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,832
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:They were doing well after a slow start Bob, I used to go in or go past during the middle of the day and always a queue to get served and a lot of tables taken. This was before many units had opened, could be the rent and business rates were too high for the takings?
Your comment about "before many units were open" meant no or little competition plus the workmen were still around. There are now plenty of other food outlets in St James and people can always get a sausage roll etc in M&S.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
Jan Higgins wrote: people can always get a sausage roll etc in M&S.
Talking of which, whilst when I went into M&S in Deal yesterday, there were long queues and all available tills in full operation.
I've never even seen all the tills manned in the one at St James' and wonder how it's doing now the novelty has worn off.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Jan Higgins wrote:Your comment about "before many units were open" meant no or little competition plus the workmen were still around. There are now plenty of other food outlets in St James and people can always get a sausage roll etc in M&S.
The only other food outlet there is the newly arrived Burger King as far as I am aware Jan, M & S don't do hot sausage rolls, pasties, pies, pizza slices etc.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Captain Haddock wrote:Talking of which, whilst when I went into M&S in Deal yesterday, there were long queues and all available tills in full operation.
I've never even seen all the tills manned in the one at St James' and wonder how it's doing now the novelty has worn off.
Nowhere near as busy as it was when in the town centre
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
You are right Howard.If i went to Canterbury and I had more than a few minutes wait for bus home back to River I would pop into marks for food for tea.Im not walking down to St James.Its so sterile..No good for an oldy who relies on the buses.So a quick look around for a Christmas goodie no good.
Jan Higgins likes this
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
Excellent bus service to Deal Sue and the High Street is thriving in spite of the Council's best efforts!
Happy to buy lunch/coffee.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,832
I really should not comment on St James as I still have not visited and can see no reason to, although family members have been.
The place is to far for me to bother, it seems to cater more for car owners and those younger than me.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
Hot off the Press - Follies will not be opening a pizzeria at the St James shopping centre in Dover
https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/whats-on-news/follies-not-opening-pizzeria-st-2296657"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
Thanks Bob
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
typical attitude from some here,those oldies who are capable to walk from pencester and back. bobs comments are not helpful at all.
the whole town needs supporting
Guest 2478 likes this
Guest 2478- Registered: 6 Feb 2018
- Posts: 11
Totally agree that we need to support the town. In the next few weeks I'll be the new owner of 'Allan Hughes'and I would hope that the town continues to support the shop. I really believe that Dover is on the up but the high street is changing and we all need to support and embrace it
howard mcsweeney1 likes this
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,992
Brian, with respect, I have always tried to support Dover but have never supported the St James' scheme and have consistently made my views clear.
We are not going to turn Dover around by all channelling Norman Vincent Peale any more than the Yippies managed to elevate the Pentagon.
I have read extensively on Town Regeneration and talked to and listened to people who have actually managed to turn town centres around rather than snake-oil salesmen and self publicists like Portas.
Never has anyone suggested the way forward is to spend two decades using public money to build a load of sheds trying to sell stuff and then flog it to a Pension Company for a lesser amount.
I presume you have read the Grimsey Review and more importantly Grimsey Review 2
www.vanishinghighstreet.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/GrimseyReview2.pdf which are very much a starting point for Town Centre regeneration?
I'd love to know where St James', originally suggested the very year that Amazon started trading in the UK (!) plays its part in a successful Dover future.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
I alway support Alan Hughes shop.I may not have had a husband for thirty five years but I still buy the odd tie or something or socks .For the opposite sex . I agree with Bobs comments .
Brisn I hate walking across from Pencester and walking down Biggin Streetnis is like a wind tunnel.
I’m off to Canterbury tomorrow will take about an hour as the buses do not connect.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Go to any town centre in the country and the moan goes up about too many nail bars, tattoo parlours, barber shops, cafes, micro pubs and the like by people who buy stuff on this interweb thingy. The truth as I see it is that anyone who can give the right service can actually succeed in the long term unless Amazon can do a good toasted bagel or measure up a suit online.
Brian Dixon, Guest 2478 and Captain Haddock like this
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,495
Kaspa's has appeared on the store map, on the ground floor of the Travelodge building.
https://www.stjames-dover.co.uk/store-map/
http://kaspas.co.uk/Guest 2478 likes this
Guest 1599- Registered: 9 Nov 2015
- Posts: 40
Bella Italia is back???
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
