Businesses in a Nottinghamshire town are hoping for a big chain to come and revitalise it and bring back some of the footfall lost by traders. Over the last few years Newark’s town centre has slowly become emptier, seeing many big names and small businesses close up shop in the area or move away from the town centre, including Marks and Spencer, Superdrug, Monsoon and Shoe Zone.
The pandemic made things more difficult for small businesses, but, despite the recent closures, many are still thriving in the town. Owner of Petit Versailles, Hajra Kemari, opened her store in Stodman Street in 2015 but, after her business grew quickly, she moved to her current store, further up on the same street.
When asked about the empty stores, Hajra suggested changes to businesses rates. Hajra also feels that retailers need to consider their premises from the outside and look up, making sure that windows are showing attractive displays rather than rubbish as “people do look up at the town’s buildings, so we all have a part to play in making them as attractive as possible”.
