Simon’s News, on East St Helen Street, will be closing down on Saturday 23rd November. Simon says this is partly due to ill health.
The closure is a great shame for Abingdon as Simon’s News is the last dedicated Newsagent in Central and South Abingdon, after McColl’s Stores, in Reynold’s Way, closed last month. I heard that a lot of the paper rounds from Simons and McColls will now transfer to Rowes in Wantage.
There will be a sale for the next couple of weeks. Simon’s News have a wide variety of traditional sweets in jars.
Best wishes to Simon
Shame to see another small independent shop going, all very well a wantage shop taking over the paper rounds but nowhere will be open early morning for people to get papers on way to work
South Abingdon has gone down hill since the closure of the paper shop and the post office. I believe that the Vale of the White Horse allowed this situation to happen. At least Northcourt and Peachcroft have a post office. People are now using the shops car park at Reynolds Way to park their cars and commercial vans so that if people want to use the car park to access the shops they cannot find a parking space.
I am also confused as James Fredrickson, Conservative Candidate in the next election said he is fighting the Lib Dems proposal to scrap the 2 hours free parking in Abingdon but the Lib Dems deny this. Who is telling the truth?
Sad that another independent small shop is closing. There are probably several reasons, but underlying it is that most of us say we want small independent shops to survive, but do we in turn use them sufficiently ? Was on Oxford yesterday and walked through the Westgate. Personally I hate that big chain under cover shopping “experience” only went there to go to the cinema. If we want the small independents to survive we have to use them and the local council needs to be proactive in their support.
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The simple way to find out whether he is telling the truth is to ask him to show you the source of this ‘proposal’.
I’m not aware of it.
David – there is a local cinema in Abingdon you don’t need to visit the large chain cinema in the Westgate!
So sorry to hear this. I had a letter confirming paper delivery moved to Wantage, but I am wondering whether the same paper delivery people will be used. Phoebe at the weekends was very efficient.
Martin as I understand it the Wantage people who are taking over the paper rounds will be delivering by van your orders to the homes of your existing paper delivery boys and girls
A shame to see another town centre shop closing but the last time I went in there, the member of staff ignored me for several minutes while I stood waiting to be served, too busy looking at paperwork on the counter. I was the only customer so not easy to miss. Eventually I walked out, to be asked as I left if I needed anything. I haven’t been back since. Small shops especially need to make a big effort with customer service if they want to survive.
All the best Simon, enjoy your leisure time now. From Yvonne (ex reception VWHDC)
Very sad to see Simons closing, many Newsagents seem to be going the same way. Another little bit of ‘the high street’ gone.
Some rumours of movement regarding The Upper Reaches, does anyone here know more that can be shared?
I used to go to this shop in the early 80s … don’t think it was run by this guy then though! Halfway up on the left hand side when coming up from he river?
Badger its not market forces orthe economic climate that forced bim to close, someone owes him £200k!
So sorry to read this. Simon’s has been a valued part of local community for many years.
Iissues retold here and others such as the recent window smashing have also drawn down on his goodwill and additional funding.
We’ll be sad to lose him.
Horsesmouth: Didn’t mean it was market forces just that it’s another privately owned staple that won’t be with us any more.
On the subject of windows being broken, I notice many cracked panes around the place and assume the previously … (removed)
Sorry to hear the news Simon I still have memories of ye olde black boy days take care my friend
John
Hi Badger the window escapade has no bearing on simons closing, the culprit was identified and caught a while back but not before he’d smashed 10 shop windows, including one of mine! Simon’s problems began when someone he trusted emphatically pilfered circa £200K over a period of time from his business, this despicable person admitted in court to his conduct and was given an order of court to repay simon £150k by installments the first of which was due a year ago, needless to say he defaulted on that order, sad thing is all the businesses in town know who he is and he still walks about like he’s done no wrong!
Re comment by Janet – car park
I have to park my car over there as the lorries making deliveries to the shops have knocked my wing mirror off twice now, so its the simplest solution, albeit inconvenient to myself somewhat. But i do agree that a certain cleaning company is taking the royal michael.
Ann, even more of a Royal Michael is the story that the landlord of the flats where most of the drivers of the vehicles you’re on about live (no names mentioned) is charging them to park there on public land.
Horsesmouth – thanks for that. I was in there this morning and the young lady confirmed this.
Yes but Frank its a shame a local shop is disappearing again but you cant just complain about an ex emoyee from years ago,when you go in there now nobody is motivated or helpful. Lets hope a decent Turkish barber takes it over…or even better,a quality kebab outlet….hmmmm