People in Arnold have spoken about their excitement as the new £4million Arnold Market Place continues to gather pace. While there has been a slight delay to the new and improved retail space, residents believe it will lead to people “shopping around” all over Arnold.
More bars in the town have opened in recent months, too, which leaves Arnold bustling and busy at night time, with one person has described as “a little bit European.” When ready, the AMP will have 16 stalls to add to the growing high street.
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Robert Kent, 63, lives in Arnold. Now retired, Robert had come down to see the progress of the AMP.
He said: “This is definitely needed in Arnold, I’ve come down [to the AMP] for an update because I know it’s falling behind.
“I do like shopping in Arnold, it’s livened up at night as well, it's a little bit European. You know when you're on holiday and there are people sitting down outside bars and restaurants, it’s started to feel like that.”
The development was due to open this spring. People in the town have always welcomed the AMP to the area but fear online shopping is dominating the retail industry.
Claire Dawn, 56 ,lives in Carlton. Claire, who is now retired, regularly comes to Arnold and is interested to see how the AMP is getting on.
She said: “I come here quite a lot just because I like it and it’s a bus journey away. I am looking forward to going inside when the new markets open, it looks great from the outside and with business's current situation, I hope people shop in here [the AMP] and browse along the rest of the high street outside, boost other businesses a bit.”
Hannah Brown, 28, is a work coach. Originally from Arnold, she said: “I’ve always lived in Arnold and it’s always nice to see people out and about shopping for a lot of the older people who are retired. They need shops because it’s more of a social thing for them.
“My nan goes shopping, nips into a cafe and then goes home, you can make the day of it so I think a lot of people are excited it is coming soon, despite the delay. It’ll be done eventually.”
Previously, Conservative MP for Gedling Tom Randall has said: “We’re living in a period of transition as the way people shop is changing – there’s been a big growth of online retailing recently, that ramped up during the pandemic, and the high street has struggled to keep pace. Some of the big names that I remember from my childhood in Arnold, like Fords or Barry Austen, may have gone, but I think that it remains a great place to shop.
“Like many high streets, the Arnold of the future will be one where people come for experiences, like coffee with friends, or for specialist advice. I think that’s where independent shops can play a key role: Mark Levy’s passion of music at Vinyl Destination in Front Street, for example, can’t be replicated by an online retailer. Arnold has strong potential.”
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