The Udon Thai Market opened three days ago. It was previously a shop selling ingredients for Southeast Asian cooking. That has not changed but the layout has changed and it feels more open.

There are now three businesses in West St Helen Street that are proud of their Thai connection: Chaba Thai (restuarant), Abingdon Thai Massage, and Udon Thai Market.

Abingdon Town Centre shops have had a spate of broken windows over the last few weeks. The vandalism looks random but keeps happening. Each time it is a big cost to businesses even after insurance.

Work has also begun renovating the charity shop in Bath Street destroyed by fire a couple of years ago.

The first closure at the Fairacres retail park happened two or three weeks back. AHF closed in preparation for the creation of more modern sales units.

Vineys will close in four days time on Sunday.

The Homebase closing down sale started over three months ago. Reductions are currently 30% off everything, and up to 70% off some things. The garden centre is now nearly empty

There is 60% off tinsel, baubels, inflatable Father Christmas’ and other things for Christmas.

Homebase and Topps Tiles will both close in August. Topps Tiles are moving to Unit 2 Colwell Drive.

In April 2019 Ladbrokes announced they were closing up to 1,000 branches as new gambling laws came into operation, limiting the amount customers can place on gambling machines with fixed-odds to £2 down from £100. Ladbrokes have now consolidated their Abingdon business by closing the Stert Street branch, and directed customers to the Bath Street branch.

The government policy on gambling machines was intended to help people with gambling addictions. Online gambling addiction is more difficult.