Trader says West End of Plymouth is dying, as he shuts up shop
PLYMOUTH'S specialist beer shop is to close, with its owner blaming the stagnant economy and a lack of help for traders from the council and landlords.
Dave Moor said his Moor and More Beer emporium, in Frankfort Gate, had suffered from a lack of shoppers in the West End of the city centre.
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Dave Moor outside his shop which he has decided to close
He said: "Business has been so bad these past three months I can't keep pumping money in or I'll go bankrupt.
"There is no point staying down here – this is dying on its feet."
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He blames the recession-hit economy and the pull of Drake Circus mall – and said the £3.2million revamp of the city centre's West End had done nothing to encourage footfall and even left businesses out of pocket.
He said struggling traders have not been offered help on rents or business rates during the economic downturn.
Mr Moor will now shut on May 24, almost five years after he opened.
"Footfall has fallen drastically," he said. "The main reason is Drake Circus, which has split the city centre in two.
"And the refurbishment has not worked," he said, adding that while the eight-month works programme was under way in 2009 it "put people off coming to this end" – and many never returned.
"We lost 10 per cent of footfall because it was closed so long," he said. "A lot of people never came back down this end."
He said no compensation was paid by Plymouth City Council, even though the regeneration works left him thousands of pounds out of pocket due to lost trade.
Moor and More Beer became famous for selling an impressive range of 1,417 different bottled West Country real ales, ciders and foreign beers and lagers.
The business was widely acclaimed and even features as one of the city's "great independent shops" on the city's 2012 Visitor Guide.
But despite having its "best Christmas ever", the business has struggled since 2010, and in February trade was 24 per cent down year-on-year, it was 32 per cent down in March and 40 per cent down this month.
"Last week we were 64 per cent down," Mr Moor said.
"I'm very disappointed. I put a considerable amount of money into this, and other people have as well.
"I realise there is a recession on and it's difficult for everybody, but it grates when I see the council has chosen us for their tourist guide and think we're something special but do nothing to help."
An ex-senior project manager, Mr Moor does not know if he can return to his old job, but has not given up hope of reopening next year, although he said "that depends on things".
But he said loyal customers have been "amazing" and added: "I have been inundated with messages, I'm touched."
Ray Robins, chairman of the Market Traders' Association and Cornwall Street Shopkeepers Association, said the whole city centre had suffered from the effects of the recession, internet and out-of-town trading.
But he said there were few empty shops in the West End.
"Certain types of businesses are going to suffer more than others," he said. "Dave needs a lot of footfall for his business to survive."
He said traders had wanted the West End regeneration scheme to deliver more parking spaces around Cornwall Street and Frankfort Gate, but he praised some council initiatives and said: "The council has always been responsive."
However, he said more could be done on rents, adding: "Independent landlords have to realise that retail units are not a cash cow – they have to be realistic when it comes to rents."
A Plymouth City Centre Company spokesperson said it was doing everything it could to support retailers.
He stressed figures in 2011 showed footfall in the West End had increased by 16 per cent since 2009.
And he added: "We all need to shop local, shop Plymouth and keep independents in our city centre."
A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said "significant improvements" in the West End had helped attract shoppers.
"It is always incredibly sad to see shops close, especially when financial help in the form of Business Rate Relief is available to them," he said.
Comment – Page 11
Comments
by Local
Tuesday, May 01 2012, 12:49PM
“Better still, demolish the Mall and relocate those businesses into all the empty shops its left in its wake. Putting Primark in Derry's would soon get footfall to that end of town. The Mall could become a massive carpark to serve the whole of the centre. Or a decent central cinema.”
by Lard2010
Tuesday, May 01 2012, 12:38PM
“By BenBrah
"I found a problem right here...
"Specialist Beer shop"
I couldn't care less about your special beer and neither do the rest of Plymouth. Stop blaming other people and close already."
-------------
Here we go again. Don't judge everybody in Plymouth by your own low standards.
Why is it so many Plymothians seem to rejoice in having no aspirations and no imagination and wish to drag the city down to their level?”
by fancyabrew
Tuesday, May 01 2012, 11:14AM
“It has been said sooo many times on here whenever there is a story like this, the city centre is too big. Demolish just about everything west of the sundial (apart from building's on Royal Parade) move the businesses that were in the demolished shops to Derry's and turn the land in to open space/park. Trouble is this will take cash and vision both of which Plymouth hasn't got!”
by Arfurmo
Tuesday, May 01 2012, 10:34AM
“The answer my friend is blowing in the wind. Get rid of those that have no concern for other than big business and ego trips. Even as we speak more shops are closing in the West End leaving Plymouth as the 'tale of two cities'.Pengelly's East End and that of the dead end West End of the City's small businesses let down by the' high fullitin' rampages of council and left in the lurch by rich bankers with their flag waving ' logo's' stating "Recession, what Recession?"”
by 10thattempt
Tuesday, May 01 2012, 10:21AM
“Dave,
I've been in a couple of times and Price has always been the reason I didn't come more often.
All the major supermarkets run a "£4 for £5.50" most of the time, if sainsbury's finishes to morrow you can bet Morissons have got one on. So I simply stock up on a few bottles when I'm in there.
I know you can't compete on price with the big chains with their buying power, but I reckon a specialist shop in a more affluent and touristy area with possibly lower rents would be a better bet than trying to sell specialist beers at that end of town.”
by mediclad
Monday, April 30 2012, 9:55PM
“The only way that this end of the City centre will flourish is for the mall that was proposed to be built on Colin Campbell carp park some years ago to actually happen, people will flock to an area with quality shops and a pleasant environment. A mall would solve all these problems and bring benefits to the independent retailers, failing that knock the whole lot down and start again including the market!!!”
by Workitout
Monday, April 30 2012, 9:05PM
“To Dave Moor,
Get a "Lock Up" and sell via the internet, Locally, National or the world.
You will not have to pay £Thousands to the local council (Bandits).
If you do....Get a good padlock!
Rgds”
by superwoman123
Monday, April 30 2012, 8:37PM
“i agree its full of charity shop although some of them charge the earth for second hand tatt seriouly stupid prices in them i,d rather pay a few quid more and buy new
i e i think they think they are not a charity shop way to expensive i think”
by Cuckoo122
Monday, April 30 2012, 8:24PM
“Sad to see this shop go. I really liked this place and always got the most friendly and helpful service, have recommended it to people on more than one occasion. Such a pity about the location though, @stephensj56 I agree with you. When I venture down this end of town there is a certain something that makes you feel uncomfortable, scary end of town indeed! If I do go down here I breath a sigh of relief when I approach the sundial again. I'd just love to see the ideas @Peter20113 had put into place but I get the feeling the Plymouth powers that be lack this sort of insight.”
by Charlotte2000
Monday, April 30 2012, 7:10PM
“So sad to see a decent retailer leaving Plymouth - hope you can resecurrect your business, but not in the West End, I think you should try Tavistock, if you can find a vacant shop - somewhere near Crebers, You are quite right about the revamp it was/is a disaaaater daaahling, until the offer is improved in the West End you can forget it, as for the Chairman of the West End - funny how he always talks up the Council and how supportive they are - maybe they support him - nuff said!”