Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
9 October 2009
14:5430043I popped into Sema4 today ( military clothing ) and the owner told me he would be closing in a few weeks.
He has a shop in Maidstone that does a lot better but the shop in Dover does'nt do enough buisiness to cover the rent.
So there we have it, another one gone.
Your open page at the moment Boss is going to keep you busy for a while, you may wish you hadn't started, all that walking....phew.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 666- Registered: 25 Mar 2008
- Posts: 323
9 October 2009
15:0830044Sorry to read about Sema4, but I remember popping in ther for some items for the kids CCF and chatting about this and that.
We found, after discussion that a lot of business comes along through the internet, so maybe we will all be on our computers at home ordering from large distribution sites that deliver privately (especially with the mess the Postal srvices are in at the moment).
So this forum could be the only way we will all meet up soon..
Oh Boy!, That'll be the day.........
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
9 October 2009
15:4630047tis another sad sign of the times
i thought that shop always had customers in it
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
9 October 2009
17:4630060in a rather bad location regarding parking and bus services, thought that a specialist shop like that might have survived though.
9 October 2009
18:3530066I dreamed last night about London Road. Tragic, really, that I had so much on my mind that i dreamed about a street!! I dreamed that it was like some of the quirky roads in London where I used to live: Notting Hill (before it was trendy, sadly!), Little Venice, Kilburn and Cricklewood (starting to sound a bit Clash there!) and I dreamed it had small, independent shops like veggie cafes, rasta shops, asian supermarkets, big vivid murals on walls, music coming out of shop doorways, and art shops. thenm I woke up. No wonder I am delighted to have found myself a nice London job again!!! Love Dover, it is Home to me, but London has life and a pulse. A proper pulse that doesn't always depend on alcohol drugs and unpleasant noises!!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
10 October 2009
07:0530100Bern, I liked your last bit about London has life and a pulse - if something isn't done for Dover soon (like section 215), it won't have a pulse at all, despite all the future regeneration.
I'm sure that many of those little shops along London Road are suffering a lot and hanging on by the skin of their teeth.
Many people have said that the farther end of London Road should revert back to residential properties, not struggle on as most of them are. The Town is too long.
I've often thought that the local Manager of the Charlton Centre should be talking to the "appropriate" businesses along London Road - starting at the far end and encourage them to the Charlton Centre with favourable unit rates; then with the Charlton Centre full up, it must be better for all the businesses in there.
There are many takeaways along the whole stretch of London Road and they wouldn't be appropriate for the Charlton Centre, nor of course Farriers, but many other would be.
Roger
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,303
10 October 2009
07:2430104Petals & Blooms in London Road has just closed by the way. As to whether it's due to lack of trade or the proposed demolition of it and next door I don't know.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
10 October 2009
07:4030108That's another shame Terry.
I'd have thought that she would have known about the demolition of the building when she took over the lease.
I went to see the Lady owner a few weeks ago and had a chat about promoting her business; I even made up a poster to send round to everyone and sent it to her for her approval, but she never got back to me, so I never sent it - shame really.
Maybe she'll find another location.
Roger
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
10 October 2009
07:5630113ROGER
I do applaud your enthusiasm, but it is so uphill, when the District/ county councils are promoting more out of town shopping than they are the town centre itself.
Im ashamed to walk through our town centre these days, its just gets worse.
I just hope DITZ works
10 October 2009
07:5930114Roger, and a few others some of whom post here, have a clear appetite and energy for Dover. The spectacular failure of paid and elected local reps to make much impact at all is outrageous. Disappointing doesn't begin to describe it.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
10 October 2009
08:0930119Livng here all my life, and like ROGER a true believer in Dover it is so tragic
But i do live in hope
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
10 October 2009
09:1730128Says Roger W: "Many people have said that the farther end of London Road should revert back to residential properties, not struggle on as most of them are. The Town is too long."
Totally agree, Roger. 99 per cent of Dover's shops should be shifted and condensed south of Ladywell. Everything up from Ladywell to Buckland Bridge should be converted to residential.
The exception being the new Morrisons and its nearby stores; in this case, the Charlton Centre and it's rotten car park should be demolished, thereby visually linking the new superstore back with the High Street.
Current businesses in the Charlton Centre should be offered the chance to relocate into empty stores further down the town - and offered sensibly low introductory business rates to do it (it's called a long-term vision for 'stimulating the local economy' - we should try it some time).
10 October 2009
10:0730131Long term strategy - some of my favourite words in combination!!!!! Action Plan are two more. I drool.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
10 October 2009
20:2130156when the Buckland Mill site is started there will be shops there,also I have some good friends that have shops in that area and they are doing very nicely,Raj at Buckland Post Office,Gillian at the Paint and Decor Centre are among several that thrive in this area.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
11 October 2009
07:3130164I agree there are the exeptions John, but sadly, they are exceptions, not the rule.
Gill was a member of the Dover Loyalty Scheme and as such received a lot of marketing support and promotion from me; with B & Q now at Whitfield, their's is the only decorating shop in Town.
Roger
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
11 October 2009
16:5530204BuddyG, Talking of internet shopping, I was in Canterbury yesterday for some retail therapy with my youngest daughter Saskia and as you do with teenage daughters, you go from shop to shop till you drop but I did notice a change in her shopping habits, picking up some very nice dresses in River Island she announced that she was going to buy a particular one but from the net. She had done her research and it was half price on line and yes true to form she purchased it when we got home and saved a packet.
Guest 684- Registered: 26 Feb 2009
- Posts: 635
12 October 2009
10:2130247"Roger, and a few others some of whom post here, have a clear appetite and energy for Dover. The spectacular failure of paid and elected local reps to make much impact at all is outrageous. Disappointing doesn't begin to describe it."
Well said, Bern. I find myself agreeing with you again.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
12 October 2009
20:1330283John mentioned the Buckland Mill Redevelopment, I haven't heard that for a while, is there any positive movement forward on the horizon?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
12 October 2009
20:3530287i heard that everything had now been rubber stamped and that development was imminent.
maybe seeda will take that 10 year old sign down about working for a world class region now?
Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
19 October 2009
13:2930926The majority of shops referred to are owned by Dover Municipal Charities which has a board of trustees many of which are councillors, one of which was myself a couple of years ago. In the time I was there and with the assistance of several other trustees a forward thinking plan was made and I genuinely believed progress would be made, but to date nothing.
They have a port folio of many properties many of which generate no income because of neglect, an investment port folio of many millions of pounds and land assets. They also own those excellent properties to the left of Durham Hill which are beauifully managed by the charity.
This charity could achieve so much for Dover but has resisted any interest from the press or publicity for as long as anyone can remember. Semma4 was a tenent and had tried unsuccessfully to relocate to another DMC property more suitable to their needs but to no avail, I was never offered a reason.