Halls of Ripon, the city’s only department store, will re-open with new traders from tomorrow morning (Wednesday, March 13).
The store on Fishergate closed for a major revamp and reconfiguration in January.
Ahead of tomorrow’s reopening, the Stray Ferret was invited for a sneak peek at the new-look layout.
Halls of Ripon director Mike Cooper (pictured above) said:
“For the next few days, entry will be via the Marshall Way Car Park entrance and Hive Cafe – which has remained open throughout the reconfiguration works.”
He added:
“Following discussions with our landlord, we decided that it was safe to allow customers in to the part of the building where the refurbishment has already been completed. The remaining works on the Fishergate frontage is ongoing.”
Hedley Hall’s vintage vehicles and collectables
The reconfiguration has increased floorspace and Mr Cooper added:
“We will be reopening with new entrants including Timeless Treasures (archaeological finds) Dennis Fielding (antiques and collectables) and Signature Baby Boutique.”
Halls of Ripon’s expanded offer includes a wide range of women’s fashion.
Owned by Ripon-based property investment and development company Sterne Properties Ltd, the former Wrens store re-opened under its new Halls of Ripon branding in July 2021.
Operations director Barry Cooper, who works alongside his father Mike and runs the Red Buttons Jewellers in Halls, said:
“We anticipated that the post-covid bounce back for Ripon retail would be led by the city’s strong mix of independent businesses and we got it right.
“The proof of the pudding can be seen in the fact that we are expanding when many of the big names on the high street are downsizing their portfolios and closing stores.”
Simon Richardson with his Timeless Treasure stall, is one of the three new entrants.
He added:
“We’re sure that Peacocks who opened a few doors down from us at the end of February, and Trespass who opened in the former Barclays Bank building in November, will have chosen Ripon ahead of other locations.
“This is because Ripon’s mixture of independent retailers and hospitality businesses, combined with affordable parking and £2 fares on the 36 bus all make this historic city an attractive proposition.”
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Halls of Ripon to expand through major reconfiguration
Halls of Ripon, the city’s only department store, is increasing its floorspace as part of a major revamp and reconfiguration.
The store in Fishergate which is home to 16 independent retailers, will be temporarily closed from Friday and is scheduled re-open in early February.
Owned by Ripon-based property investment and development company Sterne Properties Ltd, the former Wrens store re-opened under its new Halls of Ripon branding in July 2021.
Halls of Ripon director Mike Cooper (pictured below) whose son Barry runs Red Buttons Jewellers within the store, told the Stray Ferret:
“It’s testimony to the strength of Ripon’s independent retail offer that we are expanding when many of the big names on the high street are closing stores.”
He pointed out:
“The demand for space remains very strong and we will be able to satisfy that demand with a reconfiguration that will create room for up to seven more independent businesses.”
Halls of Ripon director Mike Cooper
For Zoe Wotherspoon, who owns the ladies fashion, accessories and gifts retailer Robin Gifts, the increased space is timely.
She said:
“We have done so well since opening our second outlet at Halls last February, that we decided to move out of Harrogate and consolidate our offer at one location.”
Ms Wotherspoon, added:
“The revamp will give us 40 percent more space in the prime location at the front of the store and we feel very confident for the future as we continue to attract new customers.”
While the work at the front half of the department store is under way, The Hive Cafe, which can be accessed from the Marshall Way car park entrance, will remain open throughout.
Keeley Buller who co-owns the business with her partner David Ward, said:
“Over the past 30 months we have built a loyal customer base and the enhancements that will come with the revamp are good news for us.”
In addition to the reconfiguration of the department store, Sterne Properties will be remodelling the building and installing a new roof to create two high quality apartments on the upper floors of the building.
Main image: Zoe Wotherspoon, whose Robin Gifts business is expanding with the increase in floorspace at Halls of Ripon
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Ripon businesses play their part in return of a theatrical family heirloom
Ken Jefferies was distraught after he lost a much-treasured item while on a visit to Ripon.
His cherished signet ring – a family heirloom with carnelian stone and intaglio depicting a Roman soldier – slipped off his wedding finger without him noticing.
When he realised it was missing, he began a desperate search, which saw him retrace his steps around the city streets and places he had visited.
The retired archaeologist and academic told the Stray Ferret:
“I was heartbroken and thought I would never see it again.”
He pointed out:
“The ring was given to me by my aunt Vivienne more than 50 years ago and I wore it as my wedding band.”
As well as being a constant reminder of his 56-year marriage to Marion, who died in 2021, the ring held memories of his aunt – a well-known actress who married into the Stevens family, owners of the former Grand Theatre in Glasgow.
The ring, with inscription, had originally been presented on November 4, 1899 to Vivienne’s father-in-law, Ernest Stevens, by members of the theatre’s band, in recognition of his writing and production of the smash-hit romantic musical For Bonnie Scotland.
Sharon Bielby, who played a part in ensuring that Mr Jefferies was re-united with the ring
Now, 123 years later, after passing down generations of the family, the heirloom was lost.
Among those in Ripon who Mr Jefferies told about the missing item, was Sharon Bielby, owner of a barber’s shop on North Street.
He said:
“I had been having my hair cut by Sharon on the day I lost it and I asked her if she would look out for it.”
Sharon spotted on social media that the ring, which had been damaged after being run over in a nearby road, had been found and contacted Mr Jefferies to give him the good news.
After providing the link between finder and owner, she also recommended that he take it to Red Buttons jewellers at Halls of Ripon to see if it could be repaired.
Ring repaired and returned
Jeweller Barry, son of Red Buttons owners Mike and Liz Cooper, painstakingly re-assembled the ring and it has now been returned to Mr Jefferies, without charge for the repair – though he insisted on making a donation to the military charity Team Endeavour, which is supported by Halls of Ripon.
Mike Cooper, said:
“The ring clearly has huge sentimental as well as historic value and we are pleased that Ken has it back in his possession.”
In a final twist to the tale, Mr Jefferies, pointed out:
“My late father Clifford was a pharmacist and was based in the shop where Sharon now has her barber’s shop – so you never know, he may have been looking after me.”
A dozen years ago, when Aelita Redeniece left Latvia she was prepared to take any job to get her foot onto the UK employment ladder.
The degree that she gained at the Art Academy of Latvia in Riga, opened the door to work as a graphic designer and then marketing manager in the Baltic country, but with the move across Europe, her professional and artistic skills were put on hold as she worked first in an egg packing factory and later in a care home.
She told the Stray Ferret:
“I was learning to speak English, but was not fluent at that time and that meant I didn’t have the confidence to apply for jobs more suitable for my qualifications.”
But, with encouragement from her partner and a couple of lucky breaks, she has finally been able to unleash her talent and is now running The Repair Shop – a highly successful business located within Halls of Ripon.
The focus is on refurbishing, re-upholstering and returning furniture to use – from much-treasured family heirloom pieces to chaise lounges given a new lease of life.
Through studies in Riga that earned her a fine arts degree, Aelita was taught how to use her hands to form clay into ceramic bowls, jugs and other items.
Now she has turned her hand and eye for detail to a different medium, making the step from potter’s wheel to busy workshop.
But why upholstery?
It may be that fate guided her, as Aelita explains:
“I bought a book in a charity shop about how to repair furniture and within days of reading it, I met, by pure chance, a craftsman upholsterer.
“After a brief conversation he very kindly agreed to take me on as his apprentice and teach me the skills he had gathered over more than 50 years.
“At first, I was doing simple tasks, but as I progressed, he gave me more complex things to do and eventually complete re-upholstery jobs.
“He is a lovely man and when I completed my apprenticeship and set up on my own working from home, he also put work my way.”
A showcase at Halls of Ripon
A second slice of serendipity came when Aelita enquired about the possibility of setting up her repair shop at Halls of Ripon.
She pointed out:
“I spoke with Mike Cooper because I noticed that there were second-hand sofas and chairs on sale there and he saw the synergy between this aspect of the business and the services that I provide.
“He, and the other independent traders at the department store, could not have been more helpful or friendly and with an affordable weekly rent, I was able to create my own showcase, with a unit that includes Victorian-style windows that were purchased from Lightwater Valley.”
Aelita has a growing order book from local, regional and national customers.
She is pictured above with an elegant French-style antique chair that she has fully refurbished for a customer who lives in Scotland and is a regular visitor to Ripon.
Aelita pointed out:
“Having seen The Repair Shop programme on TV, they wondered if I could renovate the chair and source a hunting print fabric for it.”
It now has pride of place back in the customer’s home, while many other sofas and chairs, have been diverted from a trip to the tip and returned to their former glory.
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