This is the state of the town centre on a rainy Tuesday at the end of 2009
(Press on image for a bigger version and if it looks grainy press again the (+) magnifying glass or whatever re size icon appears in your browser. Not a brilliant map and not to scale but it serves this yearly purpose. )Key:
Red is a vacant shop premises that was occupied at the start of the year.
Yellow means change of ownership or name.
Green is a shop that was vacant at the start of the year which is now occupied.
Change in 2007 (10 red, 6 green, 5 yellow) - Net Loss 4
Change in 2008 (13 red, 10 green, 8 yellow) - Net Loss 3
Change in 2009 (6 red, 9 green, 6 yellow) - Net Gain 3
Toys-Uk and...
W H Smith opened in the Bury Street Precinct (sorry! I mean The Abbey Shopping Centre as it was renamed in 2009), as did the Sandwich / Spud Bar.
Cargo recently took over the vacant Woolworths premises.
Two shops moved from Ock Street to the town Centre - Fantasia Bridal, and Abingdon Bowls.
The Co-op opened back in January and the Post Office also moved in there - leaving its old premises empty. Newton Alexander - fashion for the beautiful figure - also opened on Stert Street.
The newly opened and wonderfully refurbished Kings Head and Bell has been doing well over the Christmas period getting lots of group bookings - many from outside Abingdon.
The only pictures I have of the Kings Head are from before it opened but I will get some soon... The Grapes also re-opened under new management
Cherries moved and re-opened as Lucky 777s. Londis changed franchise to Bargain Booze / Select Convenience, and The Bakers Oven changed over to the parent company name - Greggs. Dick left off running Hair and Beauty Scene in February and some of the young ladies took over and renamed it Established.
We lost Frugal Food and Lady McBeth in November.