The Sadness Of Our Shopping Centres

[Bobbisox1]

Taken this afternoon when it would normally be heaving with shoppers, only M&S and Wilkos trading , multiply this ( Gateshead Metro Centre) by all of them near you and you're left with times gone by , another facet of Covid-19:

https://ibb.co/3s4dv5x

[Bobbisox1]

Sorry , and Boots

[237SJ]

I went to a fairly small mall the other week because there is a Wilko in there that I needed to go to. Apart from the fact that most of the lights were turned off, the most noticeable thing was how cold it was in there.

[rockyracoon]

I won't be going back the High St or shopping centre until they open changing rooms. Hopefully that'll be in June. I'm desperate for jeans.

[ummmm]

Our shopping centre has just closed their large Sainburys store for good.

They'll be no shops left soon.

[-SharonA-]

We have lost several named shops in the area. Our market is like a ghost town with only a couple of fruit & veg stalls.

[burlyshirley]

The sooner so called non essential shops are allowed to open again, the better !

[teacake44]

Shopping centers all over the country have seen shops closing within them for the last ten years, two reasons, online shopping, but the main reason is greedy landlords, making the cost of goods expensive. With or without covid they were on the way out.

[Vagus]

Ive saved loads of money during all the lockdowns simply because I don’t go browsing, and to be honest I think that will continue.
I have enough clothes, shoes, etc., to see me out and it’s made me focus on what I have rather than what I think I need.
I’ve still spent money but it’s been on things delivered directly to family, to keep in touch with them, and help out.
Whilst I do feel somewhat sorry for shopping malls, I do think our shopping experience has probably/possibly changed for good. Which is possibly no bad thing..

[Bobbisox1]

Same here Vagus we've managed a refurb on our kitchen and bathroom, it's a scary thought how much I needlessly spent

[DTCwordfan]

Don't worry, Ummmm, Amazon Food is coming! (no tills therefore no cashiers...almost completely lifeless when it comes to the human interface.

[Smowball]

Our local small shopping parade only has the Co-op, the chemist and 2 small stores open. Everything else is shut!

[teacake44]

Go to any shopping center and you will see the same shops in all of them, the big players if you like, the only ones that could even think of paying the enormous rents, its the big boys that are now closing in many of them, hence why they are empty. If anything I see the small independent trader making a come back, but that may be up to the landlords to lower their rents, and take whats available, instead of calling all the shots.

[ummmm]

DT....we have robots here delivering food.

[pastafreak]

I think we only have Boots and M and S open in our rather small shopping centre. Debenhams just across the road has had their closing down signs up since Christmas. They were supposed to be shutting shop this month...I wonder if that date will be extended? I hardly ever go into Boots anymore...what I need can be bought cheaper at Savers, or Amazon/eBay. I miss Waterstones, but even that is mostly for browsing. The only place I ever actually buy anything is tkmaxx.

[tiggerblue10]

I haven't been to the Whitgift Centre or Centrale, both in Croydon, in over 6 months. Last time I went was in June or July last year to pick up a replacement laptop from work, and popped into the Whitgift Centre to get some bits. This was when lockdown had eased a bit and a number of shops were open.

[Smowball]

Tigger you must be just up the road from me x

[Bobbisox1]

My first time out today to M&S , the food hall and got some birthday cards there too

[teacake44]

Boots are a good example very very expensive for most things, that's simply because they are in big shopping centers paying very high rents.

[woofgang]

I am sorry for the employees but i have never liked malls especially indoor ones

[tiggerblue10]

I was in Thornton Heath and now near Streatham, Smow :o)