Jewellery chain H. Samuel will not be renewing the lease on their store in Abingdon. They have been at 25 Bury Street since 1984. A sign says, ‘Sorry we’re leaving. This store is closing.’ The other sign in the window saying ‘Make Valentine’s Day last forever.‘

The company commented recently on similar closures in Bridlington, Hereford, and Llandudno, ‘We continually re-assess our portfolio of stores on a store-by-store basis, particularly when individual store leases come up for renewal.’

There remain about 300 H Samuels nationwide. Four jewellers will remain in Abingdon.

The new shop in East St Helen’s Street opened today, selling furniture and ornaments.

The shop is surprisingly big. This was formerly Simon’s News but the new shop has doubled the space.

There is also a back room.

During the day they had lots of well wishers from the other businesses in East St Helen Street, and Abingdon people generally.

There is a new bed and mattress shop that has opened in the ex Superdrug store next to poundland. They opened a few days ago and there is an opening sale on at the moment. I don’t know a lot more but the lady running it told me they had taken out a lease for a couple of years and will extend that if it works well here.

In the shop that was Simon’s News in East St Helen Street a new shop will be opening soon. Work has been going on in there behind the whitened shop windows, and now a sign is showing in the door. It will sell restored furniture and homeware accessories. More news in the weeks to come.

Andy sent me this picture of a notice that is outside the former Rosie’s Tea Room.

As so often happens the work needed to get a place ready for opening has taken longer than expected.