Smith’s Chemist are moving from the High Street.

Smith’s Chemist is probably Abingdon’s oldest town centre shop. There was a Mr William Smith who ran a Chemist in the High Street from at least 1830 (image from Pigot & Co National Directory). He died in 1891 at the age of 86.

In 1894 the shop moved to its current position at 21 High Street, and a A.W. Franklin took over.

There is a Francis Frith picture of the High Street in 1965 where W Smith & CO – Chemist – can be seen at 21-23 High Street. Since then number 21 has become P.B Conway Opticians, and Smiths, at 23, extended into the old Library Reading Room behind, after the library moved to Bury Street.

When the business moves to Stert Street, the name will change to Avicenna pharmacy – a group founded 20 years ago, and the UK’s largest independent pharmacy support group.

This is the first of a new feature. You have to guess the name of the business from the roof and a few other clues.

Towards the end of last year they had a collection for the Abingdon Food Bank.

They have a striking circular mirror that faces the street. Here are some of the staff with an award from Best of Abingdon.

The business has been going for over 40 years. Pete Deane has been the owner for over 10 years but was a partner before that. The business was refurbished and given a new look in 2011.

Some of their weekly clients get to know each other, and a Friday morning can be like a coffee morning with clients that have now got to know each other as friends!

They have a gents side that take walk-in appointments only and a ladies side where they take bookings and also accept walk-ins. In the ladies side they offer cuts, colours, treatments, styling and specialise in bridal hair.

A previous name of the business was Fashion Maker.

They have one of the most amusing A boards in Abingdon. Thanks to their facebook page for most of the pictures.

There have been two recent news stories about Northcourt Budgens. The post office in the Budgens at Northcourt Road, Abingdon, has recently had a revamp and now opens for longer, and provides more services.

The other story appeared in the Abingdon Streetlife forum, as well as a retail trends website, called IGD Retail Analysis. The Co-op has acquired 15 Budgens stores from Booker. The stores are located in Bedgrove, Bradford-on-Avon, Byfleet, Chalfont St Peter, Crouch End, East Barnet, Fakenham, Fulham, Grange Park, Northcourt, Parsons Green, Ripley, Sandy, Tysoe Street and Walton on the Hill.

Steve Murrells, chief executive, of retail at The Co-operative Food, said “Co-op Food continues to go from strength to strength, with a clear strategy that focuses on the growing convenience store market”, and intends to acquire 100 stores this year.

Meanwhile the large ex Co-op in Bury Street is still empty. It closed in May 2015 as the Co-op rationalised its retail outlets in Abingdon town centre.

Smarts Fish and Chips have reopened in the town centre after a closure for refurbishment that lasted several months.

The large new unit in Bury Street is being fitted out for Superdrug to move in next to Boots. It has been empty since being built during 2013.