There have been some comings (and some goings) in Littlehampton this week.
On a positive note, we now have another 'big brand' on the High Street, as Holland & Barrett have replaced Julian Graves. To my mind, having Holland & Barrett can only help attract other big names, although it's a shame they've just replaced an existing store, rather than fill an empty one.
Speaking of empty stores, there's one more this week as Candy Girl (next to the barbers on Surrey Street) has closed, even though it had only been open a matter of months.
It joins the growing number of empty units in this part of town (The Offie having closed a few weeks ago). Ironically, with the arrival of Iceland and the imminent opening of Lidl (which I hear will be on June 22nd) this will soon be a prime location. This is something people will surely recognise and I think it will be only a matter of time before Surrey Street attracts some big names.
To survive these days you either need to be a major player or a specialist with something special to offer that people actually want. Candy Girl were neither, and judging by what I've seen of the new poster shop, I don't think they'll last any longer than the Art Gallery did.
Overall, the retail scene is much better than it was a year ago, but even with all the new arrivals, there is little to attract visitors to come shopping here. We need more specialist stores, particularly retailers that offer something a little different.
With the new stores we now have, surely now is the time for the council to be 'promoting' the town to potential retailers. We have the makings of a good story here, one that should be being told.
