A new-look independent high street venture opens in a familiar Ripon setting at 9am tomorrow.
Halls of Ripon is in the Fishergate building that formerly housed the Philip Hall and Wrens department stores.
The coronavirus crisis signalled the end for some retailers in towns and city centres, but four former Wrens tenants kept their dream for independents alive.
Linda Liversidge at her Legs & Co stall, where she sells classic and vintage fashion for women and men
Mike and Liz Cooper, Hedley Hall and Lloyd Sheard devised a plan while selling their respective goods from a temporary location in Queen Street.
Tomorrow, their dream becomes reality.
Mr Cooper told the Stray Ferret:
“We are home to 22 small retailers – 15 of which are coming to open in high-street premises for the first time.
“The demand for space has been phenomenal and we have attracted a great mix of businesses, selling items ranging from hand-made gifts and home furnishings, to womenswear and jewellery.”
Keeley Buller and her partner David Ward will be selling cakes, beverages and other refreshments at The Hive coffee shop within Halls of Ripon
He added:
“Our aim is to take independent retailing in the city into a new era, while creating a department store experience with a level of service that is attractive to customers.
“Each retailer has their own facilities for debit and credit card transactions.”
Traders who also want sell online can call on Ben Butler, who is running his e-commerce sales and marketing business at Halls of Ripon.
Goods on sale include famous-name model vintage cars
Mr Hall’s antiques, collectables and vintage model business was in the former Wrens department store from the day it opened.
He said:
“Mark Butler’s highly innovative and award-winning concept sadly suffered because of the covid lockdowns at key trading periods last summer and pre-Christmas.
“We have taken his ideas forward and, by continuing to provide affordable space with no strings attached, have created a platform designed to help small businesses to succeed.”
A broad spectrum of retailers have joined the department store
Because of its long history, heritage and natural attractions, Ripon in non-covid times has benefited from year-round trade brought by tourists and the local population.
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Mr Sheard pointed out:
Former Wrens store to re-open as Halls of Ripon“There has always been the demand for a department store of this nature in Ripon.
“It is attractive to traders like myself, because it is in a fantastic location for footfall.”
Six months after Ripon’s only department store shut its doors, a comeback is just weeks away. The pre-Christmas closure of award-winning Wrens, was a body blow to the city.
But the building, in its prime footfall location, will reopen next month as Halls of Ripon.
Like Wrens, the new venture will be home, to a wide range of independent retailers.
Mike Cooper who owns Red Buttons Jewellers with his wife Liz, is spearheading the new enterprise with Hedley Hall.
Mr Hall, who owns an antiques, collectables and vintage models business, has traded alongside Mr and Mrs Cooper for many years.
Wrens department store pictured before its closure in December
First they were together at Wrens and then they relocated to temporary premises on Queen Street.
Mr Cooper told the Stray Ferret:
“Between us, we kept the dream of returning to our former base alive. Now it’s becoming a reality.
“There is tremendous demand for space. That makes us confident that once covid is behind us, we will can return to Fishergate by popular demand, ready for a successful summer and beyond. In addition to a strong and complementary range of retailers, there will be a cafe.”
Mr Hall, pointed out:
“My namesake, Philip Hall ran a highly-successful department store in Ripon for 50 years. It later became Wrens, under Mark Butler’s ownership and innovative management.
“Now, we are preparing for the next chapter in the story.”
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Among the independent retailers taking space at Halls of Ripon, is Lloyd Sheard, with his home furnishings goods.
He said:
“There has always been the demand for a department store of this nature in Ripon.
“It’s a fantastic location for footfall, in a city with a depth of history and attractions ranging from the Cathedral to the canal.”
Mr Sheard, added:
“As well as being a magnet for tourists, the kind of goods sold here by the independent retailers also attract local shoppers.
“That guarantees year-round trade – something all retailers need.”
While looking to the future, Mr Cooper believes that a little nostalgia will be appealing to customers.
He said:
“We decided on the Halls of Ripon name because of the association with Philip Hall and his famous department store.
“It was founded here in 1950 and to celebrate our opening we are creating the Halls of Fame competition.
“We will award prizes to people who can provide us with memorabilia relating to the former Philip Hall store.
“The items received will be used to create a display showing the history of department store shopping in Ripon. “
Councillor calls for market traders to be treated fairly
A district councillor who has championed the cause of market traders is calling on Harrogate Borough Council to treat them fairly, in the wake of lockdown losses.
Independent Ripon Councillor Pauline McHardy, pictured above, with market trader Mike Finan (centre) and his son Will, told The Stray Ferret:
“For hundreds of years, the markets in Ripon and Knaresborough have made a major contribution to their local economy, by providing an important service for shoppers and bringing additional footfall that benefits other retailers, cafes, pubs and restaurants – but they appear to be undervalued by the local authority.”
The three-time Mayor of Ripon, who supported the ‘Love Your Local Market’ campaign set up in 2012 to fight for the future of markets across the UK, added:
“I have been speaking with non-food traders who have been coming here for years and they feel that, while other parts of the business community have been given proactive support from the council, in terms of advice and financial assistance, they have been left to sink or swim.”
Campaigners have called for traders at Ripon and Knaresborough markets to be given more support
HBC has given a three-month rent break to all commercial tenants in its premises, at a cost of £200,000 to the authority.
Cllr McHardy added:
“Other local authority areas in Yorkshire, including Hambleton, Craven, Leeds and Ryedale, have helped traders with either rent-free periods or reduced rents. However, following 11 weeks in which they were unable to earn any money, they found themselves having to pay full rents in Ripon and Knaresborough. It’s time for Harrogate Borough Council to start treating them fairly.”
Stallholder Mike Finan, whose family has sold women’s clothing on Ripon Market for more than 50 years, said:
“It has been really tough having weeks with no money coming in. When we returned to the markets at Thirsk and Northallerton, we were helped by the fact that rents have been reduced by 50 percent for June, but Harrogate has given us nothing.”
Steve Teggin, president of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, said:
“The value of these traders to our communities can be seen week in, week out, as market day is a magnet that attracts much-needed business to our town centre. They deserve more help.”
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Traders selling goods classed by the government as non-essential, did not have to pay rent during the weeks when they have been unable to stand, but food stall holders trading at scaled-down markets during the lockdown, were charged full rents.
Brian Murphy whose family has sold fruit and vegetables at Ripon Market for more than 100 years, said:
“At Otley, we have not been charged any rent during the coronavirus crisis and that continues, but we have had zero financial help from Harrogate.”
When approached for comment on the continuing concerns raised by stall holders, Harrogate Borough Council reiterated a previous statement in which it said:
“Where we have charged, fees have been held at last year’s rates. It’s disappointing to hear that one or two traders feel we’ve not been supportive. We’ve done all we can to ensure our markets can fully re-open safely and to enable traders to get back to business as usual.”