Some recent shop changes in Abingdon

Shop Changes
The new Polish Delicatessen at the top of West St Helen Street seem to be doing well since they opened about two weeks ago.

The last Polish Deli, called ‘PolDeli’, was on Stert Street, and closed in 2008 – soon after the Banking Collapse.
Shop Changes
The shop previously known as Mary Brooks will be opening soon as Re-Style, a Traditional Turkish Barber. There is already one very successful Traditional Turkish Barber at the other end of the High Street – opened in June 2014.
Shop Changes
Throwing Buns has a fresh new front.

Work is ongoing in the shop that was the OX14 Deli, so there is every chance a new business will be opening there in the months ahead.

15 thoughts on “Some recent shop changes in Abingdon

  1. Suzieh

    Things are being done in what was Brain Gowers shoe shop too. Lets hope that is an interesting shop for the town.

    Reply
  2. Jill Carver

    Clockwork Dragon opens in the old shoe shop on Saturday. Peter has been running his business at markets and is now moving to his first premises.

    Reply
  3. rafe

    This says everything about Abingdon’s high street – its going down hill – like the town needs another barbers,

    Reply
  4. Ryan

    Clearly the town does if it can support 3 (there’s one on bridge street too) rafe. Just because you don’t use them doesn’t mean the rest of the town won’t.

    Reply
  5. Cassandra

    What type of business is Clockwork Dragon? From its name it sounds as if it might be a shop which sells stuff for fantasy games ( I mean of the computer type of course).
    I am glad that Throwing Buns has stuck to the traditional style for its frontage. It looks so much more in keeping with the old feel of the town’s architecture. The garish shop signs look so out of place for a town which hopes for tourism based on its traditional ancient buildings and layout.

    Reply
  6. daniel

    Cassandra….why ‘of course’?

    Also…on what do you base the assumption that Abingdon is “…a town which hopes for tourism based on its traditional ancient buildings and layout…”?

    Reply
  7. Cassandra

    To answer your question Daniel….the ‘ of course’ comment meant that I would not presume that they were offering equipment for any other kind of fantasy games. Perhaps I should have put an exclamation mark for greater emphasis

    For your second question….having lived in Abingdon for only 4 years, my impression as a mere incomer has been that the town has always advertised itself as a traditional market town. The ‘ancient’ coming from the many referrals on posters as of it being the oldest continuously inhabited town in England. However I will defer to your obvious greater knowledge of the place.

    Reply
  8. Ryan

    Yes but rafe what you’really saying doesn’t make sense. If they get enough trade clearly we will did need them. It’s the same as when people say we don’t need another coffee shop or opticians. If they’re all still open and get enough trade then clearly we did need one.

    It’s better that than a empty unit.

    Reply
  9. Spring Road Resident

    About time the coffee shops got a face lift.

    Service is good but the decor could do with a refresh in Throwing Buns and Java.

    Hoping one of the Old Gaol restauarants becomes a coffee shop/cafe as that location would be great.

    The deli is a great little place, but too could do with an update.

    Agree with Ryan – Anything is better than an empty unit.

    Now to start my one man petition for a proper cinema and an M&S Simply Food…

    Reply
  10. ColinB

    Buns in the Basement, AKA The Mouse-Hole Cafe.

    Nice to see a sign in front, (also Facebook Page), love the font.

    Looking forward to looking round the two delis soon. Much better than empty shops, interesting to see, all these ‘duplicates’ which one will ‘fold’ first, Makes me wonder is there an offer to startup buisinesses, (rates etc). CD shop did have a banner for a while.

    Reply
  11. daniel

    Cassandra, I am sure that equipment for other fantasy games would go down just as well.

    Meanwhile…I have no greater knowledge to be deferred to. But it is nice of you to think I have. I just wasn’t aware that the town was advertised in that way, or indeed, at all.

    The town has no identity whatsoever, or at least, it doesn’t from my POV as a mere resident. If the residents aren’t aware of the towns identity, hopes, dreams, or aspirations….I would be surprised if the tourists were. However…if such an identity IS out there in someway, shape or form….well, at least that’s something I suppose. It was just a surprise to hear it, that was all.

    It would seem, in this instance, your knowledge is even greater than mine, and I happily bow before it.

    Reply
  12. Hester

    Daniel – I am hoping that your last comments were at least partly tongue-in-cheek, but I have a feeling they weren’t so here goes..

    A few years ago there were some consultations with residents and visitors alike and one of the conclusions was that the various websites and promotional material didn’t give a consistent message about Abingdon. So the Abingdon.gov.uk website was completely revamped to be a one-stop information source about the town – both for potential visitors and for residents. So it combines information about the town’s history, things to do, places to visit etc with practical information and a “What’s On” calendar for residents. (NB the Community section is in the middle of a revamp so is t looking quite right at present!).

    I know you will say that websites aren’t everything, and there are of course various brochures, guides, leaflets etc – and the knowledgeable Information Centre staff) but the internet does tend to be he starting-point for many people and I Would have thought th

    Reply
  13. Hester

    ..sorry,mfinger trouble! I would have thought that this one does pretty much what Cassandra describes – and does it pretty well.

    I agree that it doesn’t say much about dreams and aspirations: philosophical question, can a town as such have dreams and aspirations, don’t those belong to the people? And if so, do you really think that the people of Abingdon have a common set which could be expressed somewhere? I would have thought that discussions on this blog show that views are pretty diverse!

    Reply
  14. Guido

    And even if a lot of people do want the same thing…reversal of ABiTS, proper(!) cinema, no empty shop units, full disclosure of the Old Gaol “deal”, full right of way through Twickenham House, the developers to pay for damage caused at 65 Oxford rd, Drayton rd development scrapped, 1000 extra homes in North Abingdon not permitted until full infrastructure is put in place, Tilsley Park “deal” disclosed, the Charter area refurbished as promised…(I could go on, and on, and on)…..but still nothing happens!

    Reply

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