I did a piece some time back saying that there was a new cobbler in Stert Street. At first the business was regularly open, but since the start of the summer holidays the opening of the shop has become very erratic, and was last open about two weeks ago. Notices appeared today to say the landlord has taken back possession of the shop because of unpaid rent. Anybody wanting to pick up their shoes needs to provide a receipt and description.
That’s a shame.
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Phew – Thank goodness I collected our shoes!!!
What a load of old cobblers!
I have called several times and found the shop closed. Today I, too, saw the notice and now I have go through the procedure of reclaiming my bag from the Landlord. Since the repair was prepaid (and possibly not comleted!) I do hope that I am not ngoing to have to pay out any more money to retrieve said item?!!
I’m curious – and young, and innocent below my years….but what is it about the modern British landscape that makes it “better” for a landlord to have an empty premises compared to having a premises that is only managing, say 50% of the rent…?
Surely a closed shop just adds to a declining highstreet…whereas a let one can surely only help reverse a declining highstreet….and when it does…you can increase the rent?
What am I missing?
I have just sent an email, as instructed per the notice on the shop door, to the Landlord (I presume) requesting further instructions for the retrieval of my property. I will report back as to whether the procedure worked!!
Does anyone know what ciricumstances have prompted this closure. It seems such a pity.
I did hear that the owner, a Portuguese chap, had a family bereavement which meant going back home.
It is a shame he has gone – he was a nice helpful man. Maybe too honest and helpful for his own good – when I took my son’s shoes in for him to look at he said he could do a repair job but because of where it was it would only go again in a few months and so wasn’t worth doing. A lot of places wouldn’t have been so honest!
I prepaid for repairs – he said he had such a lot of work, but before he started to ask for prepayment, customers would leave shoes for him to repair and then not collect them.
I took a set of keys in on a Wednesday. He said he could do them. Then said that he didn’t have the right keys. He was waiting on a delivery. I said can I leave them and pick them up on Friday? He took my money. I said I would be back about 3 or 4pm. Came back Friday, sign on the door said open but it was locked. Another guy waiting outside trying to get his shoes. Tried the number on the door but it wasn’t connected. Couldn’t find anyway of getting hold of him. Waited till 5pm then gave up. Went there on Saturday the shop was open. He had the keys. He hadn’t copied them. Was waiting for a delivery. Wanted me to leave them! I said I needed them yesterday. Offered to copy them another time I could just drop them off! I insisted on having the money back. He couldn’t say when he’d have the right keys and I didn’t know when he’d be open. He said he’d waited for me on Friday!
Customers can’t collect them if the shop isn’t open and they have no way of getting in touch with him.
I took the keys to Timpsons and got them copied straightaway. They said he would disappear for months.
Hope people have receipts and can get their shoes back.
Pedro was a nice man and an excellent cobbler. What he needed was a local mentor to help him with customer relations and running his business. Two deaths of close family in Portugal, along with his lack of management experience, meant that he just couldn’t cope. I was quoted £120 to repair my shoes at two other shops, and told it would be cheaper to buy a new pair. Pedro said he would do the job for £12.50 – and he did. It was a hassle getting them back, but his handiwork was brilliant. No wonder he had difficulty paying the rent.
Greedy landlords and to much rates killing the town . This town will take years to recover from the new precinct . I have spoken to many shop owners who say their takings are down over 50% but rent and rates are still the same you do the maths