Work has begun to fit out the shop making up the west side of 15 High Street, in Abingdon.

15 High Street was The Lion Hotel until the mid 1940s. The premises was wide enough to make 2 or 3 large shops with restaurant or offices above. The west side of number 15 became Woolworths until about 1970. Since then it has been a Home Charm Ltd, Texas Discount Store, FADS, B-Wise and lately QC.

The new shop proprietor, called ‘Savers’, say on their web site “we aim to be the most competitively priced health & beauty products and household goods retailer on the High Street.”

They are recruiting: Sales Assistant and Assistant Manager.

Anybody who has tried adding points to their Choose Abingdon Loyalty Card in 2015 will have found they can’t.

The initial scheme has run its course, and a replacement scheme using mobile phones is being investigated. You can still redeem points but not add new ones to the card.

In the mean time the loyalty card is more than a nice souvenir; it will still allow discounted entry on event tickets.

Press on Changes in 2014 for a bigger pdf version.

Key:
Green is a shop that was vacant at the start of the year which is now occupied.
Yellow means a change of name.
Red is a vacant shop premises that was occupied at the start of the year.

Change in 2007 ( 6 green, 5 yellow, 10 red ) – Net Loss 4
Change in 2008 ( 10 green, 8 yellow, 13 red ) – Net Loss 3
Change in 2009 ( 9 green, 6 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Gain 3
Change in 2010 ( 9 green, 6 yellow, 5 red ) – Net Gain 3
Change in 2011 ( 2 green, 8 yellow, 5 red ) – Net Loss 3
Change in 2012 ( 6 green, 1 yellow, 7 red ) – Net Loss 1
Change in 2013 ( 6 green, 8 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Change 0
Change in 2014 ( 6 green, 8 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Change 0

Welcome to:
Bildio (barber)
Breckon & Breckon (Estate Agent)
Efes (barber)
Ox Vapours (Electronic cigarettes)
Sparkle & Dream (children’s party and clothes)
Valetina (fashion)
Vodafone (mobiles)
William Hill (bookmaker)
Yellow House (English Language Teaching)

Goodbye to:
Abingdon Fashion
Harp (pub)
Hatton Goldsmiths
Honey Pot (flowers) – continue to operate without shop
Local Craft (Pop Up Shop)
OX14 Deli
Redmayne-Bentley Stockbrokers
Something Silver (clocks)
Sweet Chocolate – stocked now by Simon’s News

Move to new premises:
Frend & Co (watches & jewellery)
Belinda’s Jewellery Box

Change to similar business in same premises:
Al Zaib to Majliss
The Lemon Grove to Mezzah House
Badgers to Dapper Street

(let me know any mistakes in this annual roundup)

Cathy’s Sandwich Bar on Ock Street is where Mega Bonus once was. Status Trophies has closed. Audrey’s Flower Shop is now flats.

In the Status Trophies’ window, with the blue screens, is a notice about the shops’s closure from a while back. They are missed by me and I am sure by others.