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On a fine sunny day i decided to explore the High Street. I started at Liberation Square I decided to work my way up to snowhill where the now defunct cable car used to operate from.
The first shop I encountered was a high tech co-op mini market, which was modern and had a self service checkout and pay system. A bit too advanced to me but basically one can scans ones purchases and pay by either card or cash without having to see a cashier.
I was struck by how busy the street was with both tourists and locals. St Helier is serviced by a number of excellent departmental stores, Voissons and De Gruchy are both locally family owned stores that have been operating for over a century. Their stores are modern and contain designer clothes from all over the fashion world. These are complimented by a BHS, an M&S and numerous other clothing outlets. There are a number of newsagents and souvenir shops which nestle between the larger stores.
As a proceeded northwards i came across my first empty shop... Shock Horror but no it was not another charity shop in the offing but merely yet another branch of the HSBC opening a friendly pop in and chat style bank.
Pubs like the Bluenote, the Cock and Bottle, the Exeter and the Pearson were all doing a brisk business in the absence of any Wetherspoons.
One thing I noticed is that none of the large coffee chains like Costalot or Moneybucks have franchises on the island, so your coffee is served in local family run tea rooms and coffee shops.
McDonalds has been relegated to a side street and is housed in an iconic art deco building which prevents it from adopting its anywhere anytown normal frontage and is unrecognisable from most of its other High Street centres.
There are two boots either end of the street together with a host of jewellers, designer clothes, sportswear shops and a small smattering of mobile phone shops due to the limited networks available on the island.
There is also an excellent indoor market where islanders are actively encouraged buy local produce in order to support the local economy. This is supported by radio advertisements and newspaper ads all encouraging the public to recycle the Jersey pound by buying genuine Jersey products. There is an excellent fish and meat market where one can buy freshly caught local fish or if your feeling lazy pop into one of the many seafood restuarants that also litter the Victorian indoor hall. Islanders are amazed that there isnt a wet fresh fish shop in Dover nor any dedicated seafood restaurants. Im at a loss to explain why this is the case.
From a new comers point of veiw it would appear that the economic crisis has saled past most of the business's in Jersey however the RBS have annouced 19 job losses to be spread around the different islands.
Last Saturday saw the start of a two day vintage car rally where the great and the good brought out there collection of classic cars followed by drag racing in the evening and hill climb races the following day all free to attend.
ColetteB may wish to note that parking is by way of a prepaid scratch which are displayed in your window where one scratches the day, the date and the time of arrival and each card represents between 30mins and 2 hrs so should one sctrach a card at 10.30am for 2hours but leave after only one hr the other hour can be used in a parking bay else where in the town, so no time or money is wasted. There are no pay and display machines to collect money from or be serviced, saving on man power and administration. The scratch cards can be purchsed from newsagents, spar, supermarkets and most other indepentant stores, a great system which could be adopted on the mainland.
Ok this is just a small insight into my first opinions of Jersey but so far so good.
Will post again soon on the arrival of the £11.5million super yacht "tickled pink" which is moored in the old harbour.
Regards
Marek