Category Archives: Business

So called ‘Non Essential’ Shops to re-open from Monday June 15th

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Non Essential
The so called ‘non essential’ shops have permission to open from June 15th.
Non Essential
The shops have all been certified as ready to open after working out their social distancing, and cleaning measures.
Non Essential
Opening hours will be less than usual in many shops.
Non Essential
The almost three months closure of businesses has meant they had to look, during the closure, to online sales, deliveries, or pick and collect.

The list of those businesses allowed to open include:

  • Betting shops
  • Charity shops
  • Clothing shops
  • Gift shops
  • Mobile Phone shops
  • Art galleries

Not all shops in these categories will want to open immediately.

Hairdressers, beauty salons, pubs, and restaurants will have to wait until at least July before they open. They involve closer contact.
Non Essential
There is a one way system on the Market Place – managed by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council, but not in places managed by other authorities or companies.

The last newsagent

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The last newsagent
The last dedicated small newsagent in Abingdon has closed. That makes 4 closures in the last year.

It was on Northcourt Road, near a Co-op supermarket that also sells newspapers. Newsagents have been closing down across Britain with competition from supermarkets and petrol stations. Many people now get their news online.

WH Smith continue to operate and sell newspapers and magazines, and much more besides.

Peachcroft Newsagent closed

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Peachcroft Newsagent closed
Stuart sent me a picture to show that the newsagent in the Peachcroft shopping centre has closed. The shops were built in the early 1980s and this one has always been a newsagent, firstly called Mallows, then Dillons and finally McColls or Martins (Martin is the newsagent arm of McColls). A sign in the window directs paper girls and boys to McColls @ Northcourt.

The McColls at Northcourt Road is also available to rent. It was announced in February 2020 that McColls will be be shutting over 300 stores nationally, including a lot of the smaller shops.

Reopening

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Reopening
The food shops mostly stayed open during the lockdown, including some of those offering takeaway coffee and food. Some cross over shops, that have some food, like Poundland, stayed open. Pharmacies stayed open, as did some shops that sold pharmaceuticals and cleaning products like Savers. Banks stayed open with reduced hours.

With the easing of the lockdown, last week, the Estate Agents can reopen, and about half of those in Abingdon have reopened with social distancing and ideas like virtual viewings. Superdrug has also reopened.
Reopening
Some shops like Added Ingredients and Holland and Barrett and Pedal Power operate with reduced hours.

Business owners are working on their risk assessments, seeing whether they can get staff back and reopen. This is new to everyone. We got a phone call from somebody who is scheduled to do work in our house. He asked whether we have anybody over 70 or self isolating. He has the PPE but needs to find out whether there is enough work that can be safely done before getting the workmen back off furlough and giving us a date.

Cleaning Business moves into Abingdon Shop

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Cleaning Business
Beclean Abingdon have been providing cleaning services in Abingdon since 2015 and have now become more visible with a shop at 6 The Square, Abingdon, which opened on 27th February. This shop was previously Art and Stuff.

The shop will sell their professional materials, and also allow people to enquire about their domestic and commercial cleaning services. There is more information on their website http://www.beclean-abingdon.co.uk/.

Abingdon’s H. Samuel store to close

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Samuel store to close
Jewellery chain H. Samuel will not be renewing the lease on their store in Abingdon. They have been at 25 Bury Street since 1984. A sign says, ‘Sorry we’re leaving. This store is closing.’ The other sign in the window saying ‘Make Valentine’s Day last forever.‘
Samuel store to close
The company commented recently on similar closures in Bridlington, Hereford, and Llandudno, ‘We continually re-assess our portfolio of stores on a store-by-store basis, particularly when individual store leases come up for renewal.’

There remain about 300 H Samuels nationwide. Four jewellers will remain in Abingdon.

New Shop Opens in Abingdon Today

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New Shop Opens in Abingdon Today
The new shop in East St Helen’s Street opened today, selling furniture and ornaments.
New Shop Opens in Abingdon Today
The shop is surprisingly big. This was formerly Simon’s News but the new shop has doubled the space.
New Shop Opens in Abingdon Today
There is also a back room.

During the day they had lots of well wishers from the other businesses in East St Helen Street, and Abingdon people generally.

Furniture businesses return to Abingdon Town Centre

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Furniture businesses
There is a new bed and mattress shop that has opened in the ex Superdrug store next to poundland. They opened a few days ago and there is an opening sale on at the moment. I don’t know a lot more but the lady running it told me they had taken out a lease for a couple of years and will extend that if it works well here.
Furniture businesses
In the shop that was Simon’s News in East St Helen Street a new shop will be opening soon. Work has been going on in there behind the whitened shop windows, and now a sign is showing in the door. It will sell restored furniture and homeware accessories. More news in the weeks to come.