Bradbeers give Salisbury business owners high hopes

One of the city’s biggest empty sites, 41-44 Blue Boar Row, which used to be Debenhams, is to reopen later this year, after being purchased by department store Bradbeers.

Local business owners are eagerly awaiting this big-brand arrival to the city, in hopes it will bring more customers to their own shops. 

Paul Smith, from Vinyl Collectors and Sellers, in Cross Keys Shopping Centre, explains that as both a customer and local business owner, Bradbeers comes as a huge positive.

READ MORE: Bradbeers reveals plans to open at old Debenhams store in Salisbury

Paul Smith, from Vinyl Collectors and Sellers (Image: Isabella Holliday)

He said: “Personally, I think that it’s great news, because I’m one of those people that really misses Debenhams. I used to buy a lot of my clothes from there.”

Vinyl Collectors and Sellers is the only dedicated physical music store in Salisbury and has won the Green Business Association Bronze Award for engagement in sustainable practices.

Mr Smith added: "It is certainly going to increase footfall. It does look like Salisbury is on the up, which is great after all the events from the past few years - with Novichok and the pandemic."

SEE MORE: 'It is end of an era': Veterans say emotional goodbye to the iconic RAF Hercules

Samantha Cherrington, who runs Etica Boutique (Image: Isabella Holliday)

Samantha Cherrington, who runs Etica Boutique, is looking forward to welcoming more people to Salisbury.

She said: “I think it’s really good news. With Debenhams being an empty unit, there’s no soul to the city. Bradbeers is a shining light.”

Etica Boutique, located on St Thomas Square, sells ‘chic’ clothing, accessories and homeware, and Samantha is keen for Salisbury’s footfall to increase - particularly for independent businesses.

Ms Cherrington added: "Anything we can do to make it (Salisbury) feel fuller and give people more opportunities to come into Salisbury will help all the independents around those large stores."

READ MORE: Salisbury’s newest shop opens selling treats from Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey

Ilona Coryndon Burns, from Yoga Stuff (Image: Isabella Holliday)

Ilona Coryndon Burns, from Yoga Stuff, at 8 The Maltings, agrees that it will bring more life to Salisbury. 

She said: "As a rule, I think that it’s going to be a good thing. Obviously it will help footfall in the city and encourage people to come in and spend a bit more time here."

Increased footfall seems to be a particularly common positive in terms of Bradbeer’s arrival in the eyes of independent business owners.

But, Ilona does have some concerns over how Bradbeers opening may affect Yoga Stuff’s trade. 

“I just want to make sure, as much as you can, that it doesn’t affect our trade. When you have a big brand store like that, people have limited money to spend”.

Regardless, she has high hopes that her customers will continue to support their local businesses. 

“I’m very hopeful that the citizens of Salisbury and surrounding areas will still value us as independents, and still want to come in to have that lovely service and a chat with us”.