Who's smiling now?

The shop with a Lithuanian smile  for a name is now a mere AtCost, well at least it's still open ...

In what used to be Woolies ...

The old  Woolwoth's store on Whitefriargate has got a new occupant, Boyes. Well it opened in September last year but I've only just round to noticing it. After Woolies went bust in '08 the store was a Peacock's shop but that didn't last too long. There didn't seem to be throngs of eager customers in the place but then Whitefriargate doesn't attract to passing trade it used to. I suppose Boyes know what they've taken on.

Can't stand the heat

I have mentioned from time to time that Hull is filling up with places to drink coffee. It seems that there is now so much competition that this outlet is due to close on Sunday. From what I gather (and bear in mind I don't drink the stuff) this firm specialises in particularly weak, insipid brews, indeed their product was so poorly received by UK customers they had to double the strength of the lattes. So for aficionados of the bean it will be no great loss and there still remains a branch in St Stephens. No doubt another coffee shop will take its place before too long.

The Grasshopper Store

Although there quite a few Polish and Eastern European stores dotted around the outskirts of town especially on Beverley Road and Newland Avenue there are very few in the town centre itself. This one named Pasikonik or Grasshopper is on Carr Lane. It's a welcome addition to Hull's shops and provides an alternative to the uniform fare offered by the the chain stores Sainsbury's, Tesco and so on. I hope we see more like this. If only so I can get my Polskie piwa when in town!

Meet the new shop ...

In the blink of an eye this shop changed from being Discount UK to Bargain Buys, same staff, same stock, same prices. That's not really surprising since both brands are owned by Poundland. Try as I might I cannot summon up the enthusiasm displayed by a 'business leader' in the local rag who describes this change of name as a sign of "recognising Hull is a great place to do business" or as the same perp said "Hull is bucking the trend in terms of retail". (I have this idea that a vitual 'business leader' spouts out the same messages just changing the town  or city whenever a button is pressed on a rent-a-quote machine) In fact these bargain basement discount stores are ubiquitous in the UK and not a sign of a strengthening retail market; quite the opposite.

And this is just for, well, why not?

New plans for an old site

Over on North Church Side plans are afoot for a boutique hotel no less, in or on the site of these fairly plain shop units. A local property developer by the name of Allenby (such a fine name, if I may say so myself!) wants to make 30 or so short stay apartments. 

As the top picture indicates this development to this quiet backwater comes with close up views of Holy Trinity's fine medieval brickwork.

Weekend reflections are here.