Correction: the Picture House is still open and we apologise for initially giving the impression it was otherwise.
The opening of Maia florist and other recent changes means it's time to take a look at the occupancy rate in town. Excluding pubs and banks, the vacancy rate is currently at 12.8%. That's less than one percentage point above the UK average and it represents an improvement, all things considered. It certainly isn't something to be downbeat about because when we last reported this, in May, it was 14%. Marginal change it may be but in the right direction.
Even in good times, you'd expect seven per cent of units unlet. You can still find this percentage in parts of the south of England but rarely elsewhere. The global rate for north west England, for example, is 15-16%.
Arriving at the Rhuthun/Ruthin figure isn't easy. It excludes those shops that have turned themselves into long-standing residencies (e.g. the former Lavelle’s and Clwyd the Butcher, Clwyd Street). It includes those premises that are unlikely ever to find their way back onto the commercial sector but that are currently unoccupied (e.g. the former Artifacts and bric-a-brac, Well Street).
There’s also two other encouraging phenomena to report. One is an increase in up market shopping. This gives Rhuthun/Ruthin an edge over other towns. And, a few shops have expended in size. We have, for example, recently reported on the change of premises for Mococo. Not only is this actually bigger, it very much looks it, thanks to the layout, lighting and the carpeting that hides the previous hideous vinyl flooring (even if it can’t disguise the floor’s unevenness). There was an official Champagne opening there, yesterday evening, with husbands and boyfriends waiting patiently in their cars half on the pavements on both sides of Well Street (as if there wasn't any spare car parking available!).
Mococo has vacated a smaller unit at Castle Mews, from this month in the hands of Choo Choo. Choo Choo Etc Etc as it's called sells clothes (and pricey, designer ones at that). It's in addition to their existing premises on the other side of Castle Mews. Why not Choo Choo Too, though? Choo Choo joins Creative Image (March 2009) and Reebee’s (November 2009), both of which have expanded next door.
Meanwhile, newish arrival Paige's Gallery, Upper Clwyd Street, has extended its opening times for a second time and you will find it open from Tuesday to Saturday.
Also to note, open a week last Monday, is The Cherry Bomb tearooms, in the former Nelson's. It looks a little empty at the moment, awaiting display cases and windows to be filled. It's advertised website is yet to be available.
The Morning Star opened at the end of September, care of the owners who turned Y Pentan around in Yr Wyddgrug/Mold.
Shaw the locksmith closed last month, on Clwyd Street. In addition, on Clwyd Street, the relatively new antiques emporium Yesterday's Collectibles that used to serve teas & coffees no longer does so. It’s also rather strange to report that B & M seems to have shrunk just a little. The large, open display area at the rear of the store is no longer, with what appears as a repositioned stud wall plus aisle end units. The Christmas area, where Kwiksave used to have its vegetable shop, doesn't appear to be in use this year (at least not yet).
The opening of Maia florist and other recent changes means it's time to take a look at the occupancy rate in town. Excluding pubs and banks, the vacancy rate is currently at 12.8%. That's less than one percentage point above the UK average and it represents an improvement, all things considered. It certainly isn't something to be downbeat about because when we last reported this, in May, it was 14%. Marginal change it may be but in the right direction.Even in good times, you'd expect seven per cent of units unlet. You can still find this percentage in parts of the south of England but rarely elsewhere. The global rate for north west England, for example, is 15-16%.
Arriving at the Rhuthun/Ruthin figure isn't easy. It excludes those shops that have turned themselves into long-standing residencies (e.g. the former Lavelle’s and Clwyd the Butcher, Clwyd Street). It includes those premises that are unlikely ever to find their way back onto the commercial sector but that are currently unoccupied (e.g. the former Artifacts and bric-a-brac, Well Street).
There’s also two other encouraging phenomena to report. One is an increase in up market shopping. This gives Rhuthun/Ruthin an edge over other towns. And, a few shops have expended in size. We have, for example, recently reported on the change of premises for Mococo. Not only is this actually bigger, it very much looks it, thanks to the layout, lighting and the carpeting that hides the previous hideous vinyl flooring (even if it can’t disguise the floor’s unevenness). There was an official Champagne opening there, yesterday evening, with husbands and boyfriends waiting patiently in their cars half on the pavements on both sides of Well Street (as if there wasn't any spare car parking available!).
Mococo has vacated a smaller unit at Castle Mews, from this month in the hands of Choo Choo. Choo Choo Etc Etc as it's called sells clothes (and pricey, designer ones at that). It's in addition to their existing premises on the other side of Castle Mews. Why not Choo Choo Too, though? Choo Choo joins Creative Image (March 2009) and Reebee’s (November 2009), both of which have expanded next door.
Meanwhile, newish arrival Paige's Gallery, Upper Clwyd Street, has extended its opening times for a second time and you will find it open from Tuesday to Saturday.
Also to note, open a week last Monday, is The Cherry Bomb tearooms, in the former Nelson's. It looks a little empty at the moment, awaiting display cases and windows to be filled. It's advertised website is yet to be available.
The Morning Star opened at the end of September, care of the owners who turned Y Pentan around in Yr Wyddgrug/Mold.
Shaw the locksmith closed last month, on Clwyd Street. In addition, on Clwyd Street, the relatively new antiques emporium Yesterday's Collectibles that used to serve teas & coffees no longer does so. It’s also rather strange to report that B & M seems to have shrunk just a little. The large, open display area at the rear of the store is no longer, with what appears as a repositioned stud wall plus aisle end units. The Christmas area, where Kwiksave used to have its vegetable shop, doesn't appear to be in use this year (at least not yet).
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Shops