All four Home Store & More stores are to close – including the one at the Fairacres Retail park in Abingdon – which opened in September 2010.
Home Store & More was, I understand, an Argos trial venture which did not become profitable in what is a difficult time for any startup. Sad news for the people who worked there. They sold bedding, towels and household goods – similar types of goods to those on offer in Beales (Comfortmaker) two doors away.
Good to see the ex Hathaways shop is now in a fit state to become a shop again. Looks like Connells next door is also being refurbished.
Grants from the Joint Environmental Trust (JET) can be used towards shop window improvements.
Its seems as if the Joint Environmental Trust is no longer quite so joint. It was set up as a partnership between district and town council – a way to work together to improve the town. Last year it was handed over for the town council to run. This year the leader of the district council said “We’re taking away the blanket grant to Town Council in favour of considering funding for appropriate projects on a case by case basis.“
Pedal Power was started on the Vineyard in Abingdon in 1979. I bought my bike there many years ago. The bike – a Dawes – is still going strong with minimal maintenenace. I sometimes return to the shop, for a new tyre, innertube, or pump.
There is now an online home for Pedal Power and I see it has a quote of the month.
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving ~ Albert Einstein
If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on. ~ Lance Armstrong
The former Ox Public House opened as a Tesco Express yesterday. Tesco staff held a small opening ceremony.
I have a comment from Sri from Best One next door. I hope he does not mind me repeating it here …
“I hope all of you have a very good start in 2012. As you know, I am the owner of the Best One shop that just opened last year in January. And have built a very successful business and customer relationship. Today is 20/01/2012. The Tesco express opening day. I can’t describe my feelings and stress. So you can imagine it’s not a good start of the year 2012. However my lovely local customers have encouraged me with support. Today I have seen in my shop, most of the customers who are very close. All said to me ‘Stay steady and we will support you’. I think it is extra ordinary… Thankyou … Sri”