Save the High Street

[Pothas]

I remember books in Australia being a weird format and really expensive.

 

[GIMH]

I went shopping with the wife and kids the day after Boxing Day, it was largely torture. I spent some cash in HMV (vinyl) and Waterstones though

I’ll probably buy most of my vinyl and books online for the next year until we do the same shopping trip again next Xmas though, I would guess. I do prefer buying from waterstones as I’m so much more likely to buy something that I wasn’t initially looking for when I go there.

 

[morgieb]

We have a pretty good High Street here, and it’s handy for fresh food (though we order a lot of that online and have it delivered) and for the cafes and restaurants. There aren’t as many boutiques as there used to be, owing mostly to the growth in online shopping I suppose.

Pubs are even closing down a bit here, which has the most pubs per square yard of any suburb in Australia. Fmd the town hall hotel closed down and they made it a ****ing wellness centre. Isn’t that what a pub is ffs?

Yeah Balmain Town Hall closing should be a crime against humanity. Though o/c Balmain still has lots and lots of pubs.

 

[sledger]

I went shopping with the wife and kids the day after Boxing Day, it was largely torture. I spent some cash in HMV (vinyl) and Waterstones though

I’ll probably buy most of my vinyl and books online for the next year until we do the same shopping trip again next Xmas though, I would guess. I do prefer buying from waterstones as I’m so much more likely to buy something that I wasn’t initially looking for when I go there.

It is just so bad.

 

[morgieb]

But yeah to me most Main Street places in Sydney tend to be restaurants/cafes with the odd chemist/bookshop/supermarket/etc. Obviously a little bit different where I am and the bigger ones tend to have more boutiques but the trend of big shopping centres and online shopping I think has seen the general idea of main street shopping go bust, and it's been that way for a fair while now.

As a rule though I find physical shopping torture. Even stuff like clothes I really don't enjoy doing.

 

[Niall]

But yeah to me most Main Street places in Sydney tend to be restaurants/cafes with the odd chemist/bookshop/supermarket/etc. Obviously a little bit different where I am and the bigger ones tend to have more boutiques but the trend of big shopping centres and online shopping I think has seen the general idea of main street shopping go bust, and it's been that way for a fair while now.

As a rule though I find physical shopping torture. Even stuff like clothes I really don't enjoy doing.

With clothes shopping assumed everyone did what I did. Bought online and only used big stores just to check for sizes when it comes to buying online.

 

[sledger]

I buy most clothes online tbh. Know the brands/stores that fit me well, and just buy from those. Can be a bit aggravating if you need to return anything, but no more so than it would be going to a shop in the first place.

 

[cpr]

Tend to do clothes in person, but I'm lucky that I have everything bar Primark within 10 mins walk of the house.

 

[Niall]

Tend to do clothes in person, but I'm lucky that I have everything bar Primark within 10 mins walk of the house.

what's everyone's fav online clothes shop? Need to spend some work vouchers.

Use sunspel normally but bored of them these days.

 

[sledger]

Boggi

 

[andmark]

Primark and then feel sorry for the probable circumstances of the person who made the clothes.

 

[Niall]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/28/hmv-music-high-street-chains-record-shops

Guardian writers should be paid with crayons, dismal article even for their low standards.

High-street super chains are a thing of the past. Thankfully, small record shops will continue to serve true music fans

You write for the Guardian

 

[Spark]

I mean, it's a wanky way to put it but it's not wrong

 

[Howe_zat]

Staggering that we are hearing about shops needing help now that it’s massive chains that are in trouble, and not any time over the last 30 years while the HMVs and and WHSmiths have been happily putting local shops out on their arse.

 

[Howe_zat]

I remember what it was like to work at a big chain (Curry’s) just before Amazon started to rule Christmas. They are designed to be horrible to work at and horrible to shop at, the entire business model is sheer supply and demand. Now they’re crying when that works against them? Get the ****.

 

[Furball]

How about closing the High Street to traffic and making them proper streets again?

Glasgow's main shopping streets are pedestrianised, I can't imagine how awful the experience would be with buses and cars thundering past.

 

[sledger]

I think quite a lot of high streets are pedestrianised tbh. Most of the ones I am familiar with anyway. Or at least they are at busy times etc.

 

[cpr]

How about closing the High Street to traffic and making them proper streets again?

Glasgow's main shopping streets are pedestrianised, I can't imagine how awful the experience would be with buses and cars thundering past.

The council have been trying to sneak in entire pedestrianisation for years here. Already got Market Street as the main shopping bit which is pedestrianised. Its a shame cars aren't allowed, as I'd happily run over every **** on it. It's basically impossible to walk down now thanks to people not looking where they are going, and stupid street 'performers' (oh look, another wonderwall cover) and blokes hawking mobile phone covers.
A few years back Balfour Beatty had to basically dig up the entirety of Deansgate to relay some piping, the council asked them to use green tarmac on the sly when they resurfaced after..... In the end the council have opted for blocking one end off to try and limit traffic

 

[sledger]

Preston high street had just been pedestrianised when I went there a few years ago iirc. A truly sad place. Everything just boarded up. Fortunately didn't get the job I had interviewed for.

That said. A 5 bedroom house in Preston costs the same as my 2 bed flat down here. Annoying.

 

[Burgey]

Not main street stuff but rotary charity book sales are always packed and amazing - 20 bucks NZ* can easily net 10-15 books, many of which in my case are obscure titles you'd never get in a major chain

*15p