In my review of Chandler’s Ford In Pictures 2013, I highlighted a few shop closures at the Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford.
Let’s look at these shops again:
Local residents have been wondering about the movement of the current shops at the Fryern Arcade. I’ve heard that current shops will stay. The D&G Hardware Store reassured its customers with this huge notice:
“Sounds like there are changes coming to Fryern Arcade…
Just to confirm our position here
D&G Hardware loves being @ Fryern Arcade
D&G Hardware will be staying @ Fryern Arcade.”
However, though D&G Hardware will be staying at Fryern Arcade, it looks like it would move across to the other side, between The Flower Shop and the Post Office. You can see the red notice of D&G Hardware on the windows of these stores.
Moving Jan 14
D&G Hardware
The notice in red and white is posted on the windows of the old Raffo’s Hair Studio and the boutique for the Christmas period in 2012 called Hampshire Handmade.
If D&G Hardware is to move to the other side, which shop would take over its space?
I have heard for months that Costa Coffee will be coming to the Fryern Arcade, and will take the current space of D&G Hardware and the beautiful and fragrant Mibi Gift & Home store. I have also heard that Mibi would then take the space of the old Jewellery shop, Southern Jewellers. I have even heard that there will even be a butcher at the Fryern Arcade!
If the information above is correct, in the next three months, we’ll see lots of exciting changes at the Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford.
What about the current post office at the Fryern Arcade? Where is the post office going to move to?
Related posts on the Fryern Arcade, Chandler’s Ford:
- Asante Family Remains Optimistic Despite Chandler’s Ford Shop Closure
- Asante Chandler’s Ford Coffee Shop Closure
- New Grover Butchers At Fryern Arcade
- Fryern Arcade: Butchers And Post Office
- Fryern Arcade WH Smith Local & Post Office Open
- Fryern Arcade Post Office: Open 7 Days A Week?
- What Had Happened To The Fryern Arcade Public Toilets?
- Fryern Arcade D & G Hardware Store
- Fryern Arcade Old And New
- Fryern Arcade’s Fresh Look: MIBI, D & G
- Fryern Arcade In Chandler’s Ford: Major Changes Are Coming
- Buying Christmas Trees At Fryern Arcade
- “We’re Sorry To Be Leaving Fryern…But…”
- Where Is The Centre Of Chandler’s Ford?
- How I love Your Comments
- Coffee And Free WiFi In Chandler’s Ford
- In Love With Chandler’s Ford Coffee Shops
- D & G Hardware: From Canberra To Chandler’s Ford
- Nostalgia: My Stamp Collection
- The Big Issue In Chandler’s Ford
- The Myth Of Thomas The Tank Engine
- Who Are The Heavenly Knitters in Chandler’s Ford?
- Table Hogging
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I think it would be really unfair on The Stairway Bakery & Coffee Shop, one of Chandler’s Ford’s most established community businesses, for the Landlord of The Fryern Arcade to grant a lease to Costa Coffee or any other food or coffee shop operator. Allowing a powerful international brand like Costa to compete for the coffee shop trade will undoubtedly hurt The Stairway Bakery’s revenue and may even cause them to close if they can’t afford the rent on reduced income. Local residents gain a coffee shop but lose a craft bakery and another traditional retail service disappears.
Maybe there needs to be a “Campaign for Real Shops”, similar to the Campaign for Real Ale.
Very good idea, Ruby. (How much did you drink last Christmas?)
I love real, unique shops. Many high streets in the country are identical with bland chain stores, with the same type of coffee (or even free coffee a day from certain supermarket).
Let’s unearth the charm and creativity for our place! Could you let us know what your little town is like comparing with Chandler’s Ford?
Very well said, Nick. We are so lucky that we have unique coffee shops in Chandler’s Ford, such as The Coffee Room. I had a lovely home-made mince pie for 30p there on Christmas eve. The Stairway Bakery & Coffee Shop is very popular and many people love its warmth and charm. Family run businesses or small non-chain stores are what make a place distinct.
If a Costa or Starbucks comes to Fryern Arcade, this will also have a negative effect on the Asante Christian charity coffee shop on the other side of the road. However, it is unlikely to impact the coffee shop in the Dovetail Centre belonging to the Methodist Church, where you can get a lovely cup of coffee at a very reasonable price!
Hi Hazel,
Asanta Coffee Shop is a very interesting place. Each time I was there, I was served by different people, as I presume most people who work there are students and volunteers.
Asante also sells cards and hand-made crafts made in Africa. There is a huge display (a slideshow) showing their work for young people in the third world countries they are supporting. There is a unique African feel at Asante, and I doubt any large chain store would be able to generate the uniqueness of Asante.
The Coffee Room in the Dovetail Centre is a gem in Chandler’s Ford. It is a lovely place, very open, and people would come and speak to you if you need friendship. Our postnatal group met there once a week more than a decade ago and the ladies in The Coffee Room were extremely welcoming. They didn’t seem to mind some chatty women, and they seemed to love the babies too!