Another empty shop in Penicuik

Joined : 13 Feb 2008 Posts : 23

Joe of "Joe's Shoe Bar" is calling it a day. "Retirement Sale" now in progress.

Ah well, best wishes to you, Joe - and please enjoy your well deserved retirement!

But that's now a hat-trick of defunct shops, all in a row!: the previous "Le Tout P'ti", Ben's Store, and now Joe's Shoe Bar.

Are there no grants for people trying to set up small retail businesses? There used to be several sources of help for small businesses in the manufacturing and service industries, but nothing for retailers.

Joined : 17 Mar 2008 Posts : 51

Also see that the Insurance place in John Street which used to be the fruit shop has closed down, making three empty units in that street (flower shop and travel agents).
They cannot give grants out to people setting up small businesses! Much better to spend the cash on expenses for MPs / MPSPs / MEPs or pay big companies to come here for a few years then disappear.
Let us hope something is done soon as we are now at the awkward position where people don't want to visit the town centre because of all the empty shops, resulting in even more empty shops.

Joined : 17 Mar 2008 Posts : 51

Shock!!! Saw today that the fomer cafe in The Square is to become a sit-in / takeaway chip shop. A new food outlet in Penicuik - wow! Hopefully their chips will be an improvement on the ones at the other outlets in the town.

Joined : 17 Mar 2008 Posts : 51

Another one bites the dust! Now I see that "The Neuk" cafe has closed down after over 30 years.
I hope there are going to be some new places soon otherwise Penicuik is really going to become a ghost town!

Joined : 19 Jul 2008 Posts : 3

Just found out today that RS McColls will be closing in the middle of next month - apparently their recent spate of break-ins has caused Head Office to pull the plug!

Does anyone know of another shop in Penicuik doing newspaper deliveries - my one and only vice is the luxury of a daily delivery!! If there is none maybe someone will take the opportunity to start up.

Joined : 17 Mar 2008 Posts : 51

That is bad news and now makes the town centre in to even more of a retail wasteland. We are nearly at the "tipping point" where any further closures will cause the whole place to shut down. Of course it also means more job losses for the staff too which is never good.
I hope now that the Co-op are taking over Somerfield we might see some positive action being take there to improve what must be one of the most depressing supermarkets around!

I believe that the newsagents on Eastfield Drive deliver papers and might decide to take on the extra business so give them a try.

Joined : 29 Aug 2007 Posts : 55

I have heard that RS McColls is to be taken over by another shop that currently has an outlet in the precinct, of course in turn the current shop they use will be vacated.

Joined : 17 Mar 2008 Posts : 51

Another one down.....Acorn Pets store closes down this weekend!!!! Crying or Very sad

BUT....

a new opticians is opening soon where the travel agency used to be!!!! Very Happy

Best of luck to them

Joined : 20 Jun 2008 Posts : 13 Localisation : Penicuik

The pet shop is closing down as Acorn have chosen not to renew their lease, but the present management are going to take up the lease and reopen as an independent pet shop in a month.

Joined : 17 Mar 2008 Posts : 51

I hope the pet shop folk are successful with their new shop. I heard that the main reason that R S McColls are quitting is that they were robbed THREE times in one week which does not inspire much confidence in our local police force.

Joined : 29 Jul 2008 Posts : 6

I do wonder how a indipendant petshop will fare any better than a chain did. I wish them the best but cant see it working. Acorn are a big chain and if they dont feel its not worth keeping open how is someone else going to manage.

Joined : 29 Aug 2007 Posts : 55

I agree but the pet shop seems to be the only glimmer of hope for the precinct at the moment, so here's hoping it works out well..

Joined : 17 Mar 2008 Posts : 51

Penicuik's shopping centre is in a dire situation now. It is strange how despite the addition of several hundred new houses (eg. Eskbridge, Rullion Green, army homes) there are now far fewer shops in the town than there were 30 years ago
I hope that anyone opening up in the precinct has managed to get a good deal on their rent and that something is done to prevent any more break ins.

Update: I have noticed that the car wash has been shut all week so anyone know if it has become another closure? I hope not as it seemed like a fairly busy place (by Penicuik standards anyway)

Joined : 17 Mar 2008 Posts : 51

http://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/Penicuik-newsagent-announces-closure.4359168.jp

See the closure has finally reached the pages of the Advertiser. Unfortunately, this seems to be just be a standar press release article with no mention of how many other shops are already empty in the town