A new shop is opening on Knaresborough’s high street this month.
The Clothing Store of Knaresborough will open on October 24 at 58 High Street.
Its owner says the store will “cater for everyone” by offering clothing in sizes eight to 32.
Coronavirus forced high streets to close down, but since shops have reopened a number of businesses have opened up for the first time in the town.
Owner Rebecca Lombardi said:
“I’ve been selling online for quite a while and I really liked the town and the people so it seemed right.
“Obviously it looks like the scariest time to launch something but it’s really important people do things like this because the high streets are impacted otherwise. I am confident enough the online side will cover costs and the shop will be additional.”
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Rebecca is hoping to work with other small businesses in the area, offering those without shop facilities to put their products in hers.
She added:
“I am offering small businesses the option to put their stock in my store too: so far I have two jewellery brands, including one from Yorkshire.”
“I think small businesses can be stronger as one.”
A new music shop is set to open in one of the large empty properties in Knaresborough in a move that will help to reinvigorate the town after lockdown.
The Music Bank, which is due to open on October 3, will be based in the old Barclays bank on the high street. It will sell instruments and offer music tuition.
Its owner, David Lombardi, wanted a place for customers to see and touch the instruments as well as a base to run an online store.
Mr Lombardi said:
“After carrying out extensive market research in the area we found that there are very few music stores available in the Knaresborough, Harrogate area and saw this as an opportunity to fill that void.“Whilst the world is certainly a changed place given current and recent events, our business was one of a few that prospered throughout the lockdown with more people taking to instruments than ever before.“Musical instruments will always have a place on our high streets. People like to make sure it feels right, looks right and sounds right before they make a purchase.”
Well-known brands will be sold at the shop, encouraging customers to come in and browse.
The Music Bank already has a tuition centre in Rotherham, South Yorkshire teaching over 70 students each week.
The shop is currently advertising for seven jobs, including full-time and part-time staff for the shop and music tutors.
The new store comes as high streets try to regain customers after months of lockdown.
Knaresborough Chamber of Trade welcomed the new addition to the high street.
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“It’s wonderful that such a specialist shop can consider Knaresborough. It’s a prime position and we welcome them with open arms.
“We know of five shops, including this one, coming to the town at a similar time. I think the people of Knaresborough will benefit during these strange times. A couple of years ago we had 22 empty shops, which is greatly reducing. We only have a few empty shops left now.”
The shop will further widen Knaresborough’s appeal to shoppers. A pet shop opened last month despite the pandemic.
Amidst a pandemic, a couple from Knaresborough has managed to set up their new pet shop on the high street in two weeks.
Jack and Carly Atkinson plan to open their shop on August 1. They say that the pandemic hasn’t limited their plans as they would have been classed as an essential shop before lockdown eases.
The Atkinsons believes they have found a niche that is missing in the town as currently people have to travel to Harrogate and Ripon to get their pet supplies.
In just two weeks Jack handed his notice in at another pet shop, rented the premises and began to order stock.
Jack Atkinson said:
“Its one of the businesses where it’s always going to do well because people will always have pets that need feeding. I handed in my notice at another pet shop last week so I could set this up. We’re still on track even with covid, there may be an impact when we open because we will have to restrict the number of people in at a time. We’re setting up in a time when everyone wants us to be here, a lot of people can’t or don’t want to travel to get their supplies.”
The shop’s owners have said that coronavirus hasn’t dulled their plans.
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The Atkinson Pet Shop will join Knaresborough’s high street as local organisations are encouraging residents to support smaller, local businesses. Carly Atkinson added:
“We’ve still been getting the stock so the pandemic hasn’t really put a halt to anything, everything has come quite quickly. People are definitely happy we are bringing a pet shop to Knaresborough, a lot of people have said it’s what the town needs. We’re adding to the high street too, round here especially people want to support local businesses which is great for us. We’ve just got to think ahead of what could perhaps stop people coming in to store.
Pop up modern art gallery to open permanently in Harrogate
Contemporary art dealer Johnny Messum is opening a permanent exhibition space in Harrogate having trialled it as a pop-up.
His new gallery on James Street will hold six shows a year to exhibit the best of modern British art. Following this morning’s report of Laura Ashley’s closing down sale the decision to open the gallery permanently on James Street will be welcomed.
Launching on 11-12 July visitors are asked to book timed appointments to view the exhibits safely. The summer opening will begin with a showcase dedicated to female artists from the 1950s and 1970s.
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The owner Johnny Messum said:
Which shops across the district are opening next week?“I am delighted to be opening a gallery for Yorkshire’s discerning viewers in a town we know so well. I am looking forward to strengthening the gallery’s longstanding relationships in Yorkshire as well as to forging new ones. At times like these, the power of art to inspire and uplift is more important than ever.
Our vision is to create a place where artists, art lovers and collectors can come together on a regular basis to enjoy the best contemporary art and craft from every corner of the world”.
As shops prepare to open their doors for the first time in three months, The Stray Ferret has created a list of those ready to welcome customers across the Harrogate district from Monday.
Those with an asterisk have either altered their normal opening hours or are opening later on in the week. Please visit individual shop websites for more details.
Harrogate Borough Council said it is prioritising the opening of public toilets for shoppers in the busiest areas, but a definitive list is not yet available.
Do you know of any more shops reopening? If so, email details to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
Harrogate:
Bek’s Electrical
Bijouled
Boho Chic
Bridal Rogue Gallery
Card Factory
Crown Jewellers*
Elegant era*
Furnish & Fettle
Georgie’s
G23
HMV
Hotel Chocolat
Imagined Things
India Mahon Jewellery
Inger & Rae
iStore
Lynx Menswear*
Morgan Clare
Number One Travel
Pandora*
Paper Chase
Porters Menswear
Primark
Rocca Fashion
Shine
Sophie Likes
Tiger Fifty 7
TK Maxx
Victoria Shopping Centre
27 West Park
Knaresborough:
Chris Holmes Antiques
Country 2 Western*
Dragonfly Cards and Gifts
Harriets Ladies Clothing
Knaresborough Book Shop
Knitting pretty
Little Darlings Toys
Ruebury Flowers*
Sheer Bliss
Shoes@Knaresborough
Stomp
Wild Orchid
Ye Olde Chymist Shoppe
ZigZag Cards
Boroughbridge:
Issima
K.M & G Farrer
La tienda
K.M & G Farrer
Waltons Mill Shop
Ripon:
Antiques & Collectables*
Hopscotch
Karma Clothing & Gift Shop
Kirkgate House
Memorable Moments
Oasis Florists
Ripon Bookshop*
Rosie and Clover*
The Original Factory Shop
Upstairs Downstairs
Wrens*
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