The decline in retail, and the struggles of Britain’s high streets, has been well documented for two decades. It’s the main reason that Westfield has left central Croydon to rot since 2012, their promises of a £1.4billion redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre broken long ago.
Inside Croydon has learned of two long-standing businesses facing uncertainty – both restaurants in South Croydon – where the property has been put up for sale and the business owners have no certainty that their new landlords will not seek to increase their rents.
“It’s tough,” one retailer told us over the weekend. “We’re managing, just. But it is a real struggle.”
One Coulsdon business, Cozy Glow in Coulsdon, issued this plaintiff plea for customers last month: “Where is everyone, Coulsdon?”
“We counted 14 empty parking bays on the high street today. FOURTEEN! And it’s been like that for the last three weeks.
“We’ve had days with zero customers and barely a single sale most days.
“We’re a small local business, putting our hearts into the candles we handmake in-store and everything we do for the community – events, decorations, partnerships.
“But we’re seriously struggling to justify keeping our physical shop open,
“Yes, we have a lovely landlord who’s helping us keep rent fair – but everything else, from stock to bills, has skyrocketed. And when there’s no one around, it’s hard to carry on.”
CozyGlow asked its customers, past, present and future, what they could do to serve them better, and what they need from their local shop. “What would bring you back to Coulsdon high street?” they asked.
“Your opinion matters more than ever.”
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