2022 was the year the government raised restrictions left over from the Covid-19 pandemic, but the economy was hit by the energy price fluctuations caused by the war in Ukraine and sanctions.
Press on Changes in 2022 for a bigger (pdf) map version showing the changes.

Key:
Green is a vacant shop at the start of the year and is now occupied.
Yellow means a change of business.
Red is a vacant shop 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 4
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
Change in 2015 ( 6 green, 8 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Change 0
Change in 2016 ( 10 green, 5 yellow, 5 red ) – Net Gain 5
Change in 2017 ( 3 green, 6 yellow, 7 red ) – Net Loss 4
Change in 2018 ( 7 green, 6 yellow, 4 red ) – Net Gain 3
Change in 2019 ( 4 green, 3 yellow, 7 red ) – Net Loss 3
Change in 2020 ( 6 green, 1 yellow, 8 red) – Net Loss 2
Change in 2021 ( 6 green, 1 yellow, 8 red) – Net Loss 2
Change in 2022 ( 4 green, 2 yellow, 5 red) – Net Loss 1

Welcome to:

Gents Cut

Oxford Vapours

The Cowshed

The Shed

The Therapy Room

Goodbye to:
Added Ingredients
Andrews
Children’s Air Ambulance
Halifax
Hedges
PB Conway

Change to business in same premises
Al Mulino became Flaming Grill

(let me know of any mistakes in this annual roundup)

At 8 am on 15th December, the new store opened, and when I got there an hour later, the car park was almost full.

The new junction means that cars going to Abingdon must turn right and block bikes on the existing cycleway.

I went by bike and found the bike stands tucked away in the furthest corner. Some cyclists left their bikes near the entrance as a result.

Inside was bright and spacious. There was no annoying music, just trolleys clinking and people chatting. The shelves were all full, and no sign of any supermarket shortages. Shelves were tidy, and some staff tidied them even more.

The new store loves its posters and slogans. Repeated at regular intervals were downward pointing arrows with the words ‘Like super low prices – you’ll like AIdi‘. There was also ‘Make Christmas Amazing for everybody‘, ‘Amazing quality – Amazing prices‘, ‘Bakery – The best thing since sliced bread‘. The long banks of chiller cabinets said, ‘Save enough ‎CO2 per year to fill 200 double-decker buses’ That was ‘fill 3 hot air balloons’ further along.

‘Special Buys’ were in the central aisles with ‘When they are gone, they are gone‘. These were products like Christmas door mats, cushions with Christmas elves, a game called Blingo, toasters and kettles.

There were unfamiliar brands that sounded half familiar such as chocolate biscuits called ‘seal bars’ and ‘cart wheels’.

At the end of the fruit and veg aisle, you could get six items at a special price, the so-called ‘Super 6.’ This week, they were cos lettuce, broccoli, packs of easy peelers, roasting potatoes, lemons and red apples.

A new Pizza and Salad Bar opened on St John’s Road, Abingdon, where the car parts shop used to be and next to the laundrette. They will be open from 12pm to 11pm, seven days a week. They also have some dine-in tables.

The business opened its first branch in London in 2016; they have about 130 branches across England, Scotland and Wales.

Half a dozen dedicated pizza businesses and many other businesses in Abingdon sell pizzas. This ‘pizza fad’ (as Mad magazine called it in 1958) shows no sign of fading.

The Cowshed,  a new bottle shop and micro-bar, opened yesterday in Stert Street, Abingdon.

They serve keg beer, bottled beer, artisan drinks, spirits, and soft drinks on the premises. They also function as an off license (prices are then less).

The shop and micro-bar have come together very quickly. The bar was only built on Wednesday, and some window pictures showing cows will appear shortly.

There should be another couple of businesses opening next week in Abingdon: a pizzaria on the 13th (on St John’s Road) and an Aldi supermarket on the 15th.