Town centre shops boost
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 20th May 1999.
Queen Street in Haverhill looks set to get a trading boost as one of the town's busiest shops is to open a branch in the former Shopping Hall.
Thing-Me-Bobs in Haverhill High Street is one of a chain of 10 stores across East Anglia owned by Richard Moore, who has confirmed he would be taking over the Queen Street store.
He hopes to move in builders as soon as possible to renovate the building, which has stood empty for more than a year, to have it open by late July or early August.
Businesses in Queen Street have complained of a severe decline in trade since the town's market was moved to the High Street last year and bollards were put up this year to keep traffic out from 10am to 4pm.
"I have always had a trading presence in Haverhill for over 20 years," said Mr Moore.
"We intend to make it a nice place for people to shop."
Mr Moore currently employs eight people full and part time in Haverhill and hopes the new shop will create more jobs.
Ray Smith, owner of Pets Emporium in Queen Street , welcomed the news and said anything would be better than the shop continuing to stand empty.
"I look forward to anything that will give Queen Street a shot in the arm," Mr Smith said.
"I think that we have got to be keen to see these things work, but what we really need is the street opened up again."
Nick Martin, St Edmundsbury Borough Council's Economic Development officer, who has been trying to establish a town centre management group in Haverhill, said: "I think it will bring people down there and inject a bit of vitality."
"It may not necessarily be what everyone wanted to see there but I think there has to be a degree of realism about the sort of shops we are going to attract to Haverhill."
"Thing-Me-Bobs are very popular shops that attract a variety of trade and I think it will make a difference."
Thing-Me-Bobs in Haverhill High Street is one of a chain of 10 stores across East Anglia owned by Richard Moore, who has confirmed he would be taking over the Queen Street store.
He hopes to move in builders as soon as possible to renovate the building, which has stood empty for more than a year, to have it open by late July or early August.
Businesses in Queen Street have complained of a severe decline in trade since the town's market was moved to the High Street last year and bollards were put up this year to keep traffic out from 10am to 4pm.
"I have always had a trading presence in Haverhill for over 20 years," said Mr Moore.
"We intend to make it a nice place for people to shop."
Mr Moore currently employs eight people full and part time in Haverhill and hopes the new shop will create more jobs.
Ray Smith, owner of Pets Emporium in Queen Street , welcomed the news and said anything would be better than the shop continuing to stand empty.
"I look forward to anything that will give Queen Street a shot in the arm," Mr Smith said.
"I think that we have got to be keen to see these things work, but what we really need is the street opened up again."
Nick Martin, St Edmundsbury Borough Council's Economic Development officer, who has been trying to establish a town centre management group in Haverhill, said: "I think it will bring people down there and inject a bit of vitality."
"It may not necessarily be what everyone wanted to see there but I think there has to be a degree of realism about the sort of shops we are going to attract to Haverhill."
"Thing-Me-Bobs are very popular shops that attract a variety of trade and I think it will make a difference."
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