Forum Topic

Shops closing

Dobies have announced that they are to close 17 sites across the country - https://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=trading&page=condobbies002.htm. I live in Ealing and we were lucky a few years ago to be awarded the best shopping street in the UK as we (had) virtually everything you needed to avoid making the walk or cycle (one for you Mr Khan) to Ealing Broadway. Now, like Chiswick, we have empty units as shops like the shoe menders (who needs proper shoes mended now) and the gift shop next door gone for good. In comparison to some town centres Chiswick has done fairly well to avoid the switch to online from high street.

peter king ● 87d10 Comments

Little Dobbies are closing in places where there is no parking or easy access for motorists. People prefer garden centres which have large free car parks. Who wants to lump bags of soil or huge plant pots down a High Street? Those locations are only attracting people who live very nearby or in flats above the shops and they are not the big spenders.

Steve Taylor ● 86d

Chiswick does seem to be struggling but it is not the only high street in London with these problems.With Little Dobbies, the issue doesn't seem to be Chiswick specific as they are closing their other London branches so they couldn't make the concept work here.They blamed high rents and that is what most people involved in the retail trade locally say is the main problem. Landlords are unwilling to discount because they don't want to set a lower benchmark for renewals and there are enough people willing to take space in Chiswick (often chains seeing it as a prestige location) to keep rents high.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 86d

they are not doing a good job, a brand new nail bar just opened on CHR (by the Irish pub, opposite HSBC), just moments from another nail bar

Isabel ● 86d

Yep. Money laundering enterprises. Border Force officers are starting to raid them as part of the clamp down on illegal immigration and human trafficking.

Steve Taylor ● 87d

it seems the only business thriving are nails bars and barber shops ;)

Isabel Smith ● 87d

I have heard of creature comforts they look interesting.

Janice Evans ● 87d

I saw an advert yesterday (in Acton) for a new vets that is supposed to be opening sometime in CHR. Apologies if this is old news!https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/vet-chain-to-open-at-former-starbucks-site-in-chiswick/#:~:text=Creature%20Comforts%2C%20a%20popular%20vet,transformed%20into%20their%20latest%20clinic.

Andrew Jones ● 87d

Yes think you are spot on Steve.

Janice Evans ● 87d

It’s inevitable that garden shops and pet shops, which are selling heavy objects or awkwardly sized objects, will not survive in areas where there is no parking or access is made difficult for motorists. You will soon be left with only coffee shops and mediocre restaurants. And of course pop up shops l, Pound shops and Nail Bars. The cycle  shop has apparently closed due to the dwindling interest in cycling and the problems in procuring parts and spares because the bicycle parts business in China is declining.

Steve Taylor ● 87d

Sadly, this appears to be a business idea that did not work.CHR is suffering, IMO not as badly as in the 1992-5 recession, but definitely too many empty spaces and charity shops.  However, I am not convinced CHR is suffering any worse than most high streets in the UK. The reality is that some types of business, especially banking, has migrated to on-line and doesn't need the High Street space

Justin Stephenson ● 87d