4 days Ago
The owner of a gift shop has paid a heartfelt goodbye to Crompton Place Shopping Centre as she prepares to move to Market Place. Belles of Bolton is a shop that sells handmade gifts and homewares. Michelle Oxford, 47, started the business five years ago, originally as a pop-up store before moving into a unit in Crompton Place.
The move comes after the shopping centre was bought by Bolton Council in 2018 with plans to demolish the building and redevelop the area. On Saturday, Belles opened as usual, but at closing time said goodbye to the unit for good. She said: “It’s had a steady decline, I’d say, especially since Marks and Spencer has moved, it has gone quieter.
“I’m Bolton born and bred, so seeing Crompton Place decline over the years knowing it was such a busy centre – so many shops have been here...
“Even when I started five years ago, the amount of shops were double what it is now. “So it is sad, it’s a sad time to say goodbye to it. “But I do think it’s necessary, I think it’s time to go on to pastures new.
” She runs the business with her husband Peter Slater, 49, and hopes the move will help them to grow and reach new customers. Michelle said: “I just love being part of the town centre and meeting all my customers and just being a part of the centre as a whole. “I think it possibly is my favourite part of running the business, just getting to meet everybody and hear people’s stories.
“I mean, they’re not just my customers, I’ve built up friendships over the five years and people come and see me. “I’ve seen, you know, births, marriages, deaths..
. I’ve seen it all, you know, my customers. “So it is a nice connection and I think that’s what big businesses miss out on, to be honest, because that’s what small businesses can offer.
“That one-to-one customer service interaction for customers and I think that is a very special part of what Belles is about.” READ MORE: Independent trader calls for support amid Crompton Place redevelopment plans READ MORE: WH Smith holds closing down sale as it prepares to close Bolton store READ MORE: Bolton Council hears Crompton Place 'meanwhile use' Belles will be moving to a Market Place unit on Corporation Street, with an opening date yet to be confirmed. Michelle said: “I do know that my customers will follow me so I’m very thankful for that, but hopefully that side of town is going to be where most of the retail shops are.
“That end of town is where the customers are going to be more likely to pass by – so fingers crossed it will be a positive thing. “Everybody’s going on about Primark but let’s not forget about the little shops as well.” Primark has been the biggest name to make the move from Crompton Place to Market Place, and is set to open on November 27.
A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “As landlords of Crompton Place the council has kept tenants regularly updated on our plans for the building. “We have already supported the majority of tenants to relocate elsewhere in the town centre and that offer of help remains available. “The upcoming regeneration of Crompton Place will be our flagship redevelopment, attracting further inward investment and ultimately benefit all Bolton residents and businesses.
” WH Smith recently confirmed that they would be closing their store in Crompton Place, with no plans to reopen elsewhere. WH Smith have said they intend to focus on their travel stores and have closed many high street outlets across the UK. There is also a WH Smith in Bolton Railway Station.
Crompton Place shopping centre is set to be demolished next year, with plans to remake the space into a mixed-use food and drink and offices scheme. Since then a number of businesses have relocated including SpecSavers, The Works and Primark, set to move into Market Place this month. However, there is still not a developer in place yet although the council hopes to have a contractor in place before demolition begins.
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