There's yet another empty store in Southport town centre.

'Bargain Buys', which opened a few years ago next to Marks & Spencer, closed at the weekend with staff clearing the shop floor yesterday.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bargain_Buys

I went on Fitton Estate agents web site. Was amazed at the amount of business
for sale in the town centre. Most haven't got a 'For Sale' sign on the building.

Pedestrianisation, the lack of and removal of parking facilities, cost of parking and zealous parking wardens giving out fines, COVID and internet shopping.

Is it any wonder Southport is becoming a ghost town?

Surprised it's closed down with my personal cycling lane and pedestrianised area to it.

So I suppose it's my fault!

Originally Posted by libraryguy

Pedestrianisation, the lack of and removal of parking facilities, cost of parking and zealous parking wardens giving out fines, COVID and internet shopping.

Is it any wonder Southport is becoming a ghost town?

EVERY town is becoming a ghost town. Shopping habits have changed. The sooner the councils realise this the soon we can move on and makes towns an attraction in a different way. They need to shrink and become entertainment hubs.

Originally Posted by Ceam

EVERY town is becoming a ghost town. Shopping habits have changed. The sooner the councils realise this the soon we can move on and makes towns an attraction in a different way. They need to shrink and become entertainment hubs.

I Agree. The days of going into town for a weekly shop were numbered once out-of-town retail parks took a hold. Add to that the introduction and growth of on-line shopping and it was obvious that town centre shops were not going to last. The only outlets likely to survive are the smaller specialised shops such as souvenir and gift shops that could be integrated amongst cafe's, restaurants and bars, but for that to happen, the land owners need to reduce building sizes by splitting them up, and to reduce rates and rents etc accordingly.

It's a serious endictment that a low end retail shop fails.

Not a huge surprise. Seemed to be the leftovers from Poundstretcher. Overpriced tat that you could get cheaper at any poundshop.

Empty premises everywhere. It's happening in most towns. Sign of the times. Unless the council come up with some radically new ideas, I don't see an end to it.

Originally Posted by toffee man

It's a serious endictment that a low end retail shop fails.

Has it failed or did they take on the Poundworld lease which is now coming to an end?

Originally Posted by Toodles McGinty

Not a huge surprise. Seemed to be the leftovers from Poundstretcher. Overpriced tat that you could get cheaper at any poundshop.

Empty premises everywhere. It's happening in most towns. Sign of the times. Unless the council come up with some radically new ideas, I don't see an end to it.

It was owned by Poundstretchers, if you paid by card the transaction was billed as PS.

Originally Posted by libraryguy

Pedestrianisation, the lack of and removal of parking facilities, cost of parking and zealous parking wardens giving out fines, COVID and internet shopping.

Is it any wonder Southport is becoming a ghost town?

So it has passed you by that this is happening in most town centres? Sefton is not to blame for everything

Originally Posted by onehorsetown2

So it has passed you by that this is happening in most town centres? Sefton is not to blame for everything

No but they didn't help matters. I have a friend who had a shop, in what is now the pedestrianised area, before it was pedestrianised. His takings went down by 25% on the day that the work on the pedestrianised area started AND NEVER RECOVERED.

His shop is no longer there...