Starbucks shuts shop in Chippenham (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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Starbucks shuts shop in Chippenham
12:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in News By Alex Winter
Traders in Chippenham have been stunned to learn that Starbucks is set to close.
It is believed the international coffee shop chain, which opened in the town on March 26, 2007, could have been affected by a drop in trade.
The shop will serve its last coffee in the town on October 23.
Rob Perks, president of the Wessex Chamber of Commerce, said it was a body blow to Chippenham’s High Street.
He said: “We have only got so many customers that want to use this kind of facility in the town.
“I don’t believe opening a new coffee shop brings more people into the town. Whether it’s a Starbucks, a Costa or a Nero, once you have one, another will not bring extra trade into the town centre.
“People don’t come from outside of Chippenham just for a certain brand of coffee. All you are doing is spreading the existing customers along a wider selection of outlets.”
Mr Perks, who owns The Dutch Cottage in St Mary’s Street, said times were tough for traders.
He said: “I think it’s a double shame that Starbucks is closing.
“They were the first of their ilk to set up in the town, and it would be very sad if people had to be made redundant.
“As everyone knows, Caffè Nero opened in Borough Parade without planning permission, and it possibly knocked Starbucks off its perch.”
Steve Webb, who runs a number of independent businesses in Chippenham, including Buckles fish and chip shop, said: “It’s a sad story all round.
“It seems to be particularly bad up this end of the town at the moment.
“The market has shifted from the top of the town and it’s much more focussed on the middle of the High Street now, and trade seems to be creeping down with it.
“It is a big loss for Chippenham and it highlights a bigger issue about our town centre.
“We [in Timber Street] have definitely seen a loss of trade compared to previous years, and this end of town has lost Coffee Central recently too. It’s a bad sign.”
Coun Nina Phillips said: “It’s really quite a nice place, and it’s of course always a huge disappointment to lose any shop in Chippenham.”
Town mayor Coun Andy Phillips said it was inevitable another coffee shop would go.
He said: “We don’t like empty shops, but with the number of coffee outlets it’s hardly surprising one of them has suffered.
“It’s a bit jarring when we have a new national outlet trundling into Borough Parade and setting up shop there without even applying for planning permission.
“Someone will eventually suffer the consequences.”
Caffè Nero in Chippenham is now seeking retrospective planning permission.
Comments(14)
Your Mum
says...
11:28pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Gazetter 1
says...
9:39am Fri 5 Oct 12
chips-in-ham wrote:Well said chips-in-ham
Why are people so shocked ! Firstly the Council put the parking charges up and then allowing Nero to open its doors. What do people expect. Like the story says having more coffee shops is only going to make customers spread across them not encourage more customers to town! The Council clearly dont care or know what they are doing. It just shows with everything they do! Bunch of cow boys. If only we could sake them!!
Gazetter 1
says...
9:40am Fri 5 Oct 12
Your Mum wrote:And agree with Your Mum comment as well
It's a shame that Leykers/Coffee Central was barged out by Starbucks. Quite happy to see Starbucks go really - less of the capitalist chains, more independent shops is what we need. Hope all the staff find somewhere new soon, not their fault they ended up working for a money grabbing corporation that clearly wasn't making enough in little ol' Chippenham. Good riddance.
rrosco
says...
11:09am Fri 5 Oct 12
chips-in-ham wrote:You clearly didn't read this article properly - it said that Caffe Nero set up WITHOUT planning permission therefore how exactly did they allow them to trade?
Why are people so shocked ! Firstly the Council put the parking charges up and then allowing Nero to open its doors. What do people expect. Like the story says having more coffee shops is only going to make customers spread across them not encourage more customers to town! The Council clearly dont care or know what they are doing. It just shows with everything they do! Bunch of cow boys. If only we could sake them!!
You can always "sack" coucillors by not voting for them, or even stand as one yourself : or is it far too comfortable criticising from your armchair as opposed to actually doing something about it yourself?
busby1980
says...
6:03pm Sat 6 Oct 12
Someone has told me that works for the company that the person or company that owns the building has increased the rent to a stupid amount, sounds like their loss.
Phorever
says...
12:36am Mon 8 Oct 12
Don Jones
says...
10:03am Mon 8 Oct 12
chips-in-ham
says...
2:00pm Mon 8 Oct 12
rrosco wrote:I was commenting about the council in general not just what is happening with Nero! To become a councillor you need to have more time then i currently have but as soon as my children grow up I do intend to become a councillor. I do not just sit in my armchair Commenting I actively try to get things done in and around the town. And as for not voting for certain councillors I don't!
chips-in-ham wrote:You clearly didn't read this article properly - it said that Caffe Nero set up WITHOUT planning permission therefore how exactly did they allow them to trade?
Why are people so shocked ! Firstly the Council put the parking charges up and then allowing Nero to open its doors. What do people expect. Like the story says having more coffee shops is only going to make customers spread across them not encourage more customers to town! The Council clearly dont care or know what they are doing. It just shows with everything they do! Bunch of cow boys. If only we could sake them!!
You can always "sack" coucillors by not voting for them, or even stand as one yourself : or is it far too comfortable criticising from your armchair as opposed to actually doing something about it yourself?
chips-in-ham
says...
2:01pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Don Jones wrote:and to answer your comment, there are no deaf ears here thanks.
rrosco - I doff my cap to you. Although I suspect your comments will have fallen upon deaf ears.
News New News
says...
11:25pm Tue 9 Oct 12
rrosco wrote:Well said rrosco.
chips-in-ham wrote:You clearly didn't read this article properly - it said that Caffe Nero set up WITHOUT planning permission therefore how exactly did they allow them to trade?
Why are people so shocked ! Firstly the Council put the parking charges up and then allowing Nero to open its doors. What do people expect. Like the story says having more coffee shops is only going to make customers spread across them not encourage more customers to town! The Council clearly dont care or know what they are doing. It just shows with everything they do! Bunch of cow boys. If only we could sake them!!
You can always "sack" coucillors by not voting for them, or even stand as one yourself : or is it far too comfortable criticising from your armchair as opposed to actually doing something about it yourself?
Roy-Orbit of Chippenham
says...
6:37pm Wed 10 Oct 12
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Calm down, as long as Wetherspoons is open in the afternoons you will have a place to sup.
Roy-Orbit of Chippenham
says...
6:48pm Wed 10 Oct 12
“It seems to be particularly bad up this end of the town at the moment.
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Yeah it would be. Chippenham was once a thriving market town in your dad's day. I remember him with his big beard running Platt's chippy in Lowden in the late 70's early 80's.
Now, the real markets are gone and booze, drugs and the occasional fight or f*ck is all people come here for now.
He did nice chips back then by the way. Golden brown and crispy unlike the hot white limp things you sell in Buckles these days.
gazzhazz
says...
8:54am Tue 23 Oct 12
chips-in-ham says...
2:18pm Thu 4 Oct 12