Art & Stuff have mostly closed down although they do still have a notice saying they could be open by appointment. It has been good to have an Abingdon Antique shop where people were welcome to browse and occasionally buy stuff for almost six years.

Both Gromit the dog, and Gromit’s owner, will be doing Vintage and Antique fairs, but are retired from the 9-5 shop-keeping life. Best wishes to them both and thanks for all the art and stuff.

A new Tea Room is to open in East St Helen Street. The signs are up and there are notices in the window saying there looking for part time staff who can do Saturdays. The Tea Room facebook page has the same details.

Belinda’s Jewellery Box was in this premises before moving to West St Helen Street. Rosie’s Tea Room in West St Helen Street closed a few months ago and will, I believe, soon become a French Bistro.

The Old Chemist have the boards outside

and will be reopening on 22nd August. Good luck to them on their relaunch after staff changes.

Over the road William Hill have closed. William Hill announced a month ago that they would be closing around 700 of their licensed betting shops after the government changed the maximum stake on betting machines from £100 to £2.

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.