If it closes I'll feel a little pang of guilt; I'll admit that. Walking past the, still fairly new, greengrocers this morning my heart sank. It's a lovely sunny Saturday and the place was all closed up at 9-30. The guy on the fruit stall opposite, with whom I struck up a conversation while buying a couple of bananas and a few apples (cox English if you're interested,) said that he thought they had staff problems because they were ill. Does that sound plausible? I did hear a rumour earlier in the week that they may be closing. So why should I feel guilty? Well I made so much of their opening and made optimistic noises about the revival of Tonbridge High Street and how pleased was I that some entrepreneur had had the guts to risk opening a traditional business against the big guns of Sainsbury's and the Co-Op. Then, I suspect like most shoppers I bought the odd apple and bunch of grapes from them, maybe a box of dates at Christmas, but largely forgot all about them when doing my main shop. You see it is more convenient to get your fruit and veg while getting your other groceries from the supermarket and, if I want to, I can always call in at the Shipbourne Farmer's Market on a Thursday and stock up on all sorts of lovely produce for the weekend. In short if it's inconvenient, in the long run, and we humans don't bother, to go out of our way for much these days. I'm really sorry if Bishops of Tonbridge is forced to close, and I do feel a tad guilty because we will only have ourseves to blame....
11 comments:
look mr books you shouldnt go round putting things about businesses closing down. and even if it is closing i dont think the poor staff who work there would like to see u advertising it on your blog now would they, how would you like it if someone started spreading rumors about your shop!!!
That is quite right Annoymous @ 4:36! I think it is wrong as well TB. You seem to have a downer on all retailers in Tonbridge High Street. I can remember from a post you did a couple of months ago or last year i think, when you were complaining about the workers in Millets approaching you asking if you needed help and you were saying they should go on a sales course, well TB that is a normal thing that happends in a retail outlet staff offering help to customers. I dont think they are closing anyway they allways seem busy, they may have just been closed due to staff shortages or illness or maybe even a powercut. Just because it is closed doent mean it has stoped trading TB.
In future if you here about a shop or a business closing dont advertise it just think of the poor people it effects, i am sorry if i seem harsh on you but if you here a rumor keep it to your self!!!!!
Blimey sorry, I didn't actually say anything bad about the business just that it was a shame if the rumour was true. I even said that I felt guilty about it. Whether Bishops closes or not won't have anything at all to do with what TonbridgeBlog writes here, but down to the hard facts of whether or not the business makes financial sense. I'm really not that influential. Merely keeping an ear to the ground and telling people my personal opinions on a range of topics as indeed you, quite rightly, have also done. That's part of what this blog is all about, finding out what's going on in Tonbridge, not necessarily by the convential route....
I'm not quite sure what to think about this one TB. There may be a perfectly plausible reason why the greengocers wasn't open today, so it is probably a little premature to write them off just yet. I would also recommend not paying attention to rumours, particularly when you are not certain of the facts.
However, you have a point about "use it or lose it", and not doing this is something a great many of us are guilty of. Unfortunately there has been a change in the nation's shopping habits, brought about by the supermarkets, and it is a hard habit to break.
I certainly hope that the greengrocers is not about to close, but speculating about it, without knowing the facts, is not going to help.
On the other hand, TB might have done them a favour by making us rush over there feeling guilty! Personally though I've hardly shopped there - I've had a look but found them a bit over-priced which is a shame.
Monday Morning 12 April Bishops Open.
Former John Adhams book shop Angel Walk has Let sign. Its not for you Mr Books is it?
Barnado's charity shop are moving in to John Adams is what I heard...
Maybe I did speak too soon with Bishops as it was open this morning. If I did then I can assure you that I only did so out of concern and not for any malicious reasons...
well done TB - again you're too quick with what you're writing - and you're leaving yourself open to being sued for libel, just like you should have been with what you wrote about the other book shop
in future tb if you here a malicous rumor keep it to your self!!!!!!!
I doubt it's goodbye Bishops. I think they're up and thriving at the moment.
In Mr Books defense, however, who amongst us has actually spent money in Bishops the greengrocers? Most of us go to Sainsburys don't we?
Can we buy anything in Bishops that we can't get in the supermarkets?
There is a fishmongers recently opened in Tunbridge Wells that people queue up for.
Why is it that Tonbridge, which is historically a market town doesn't have a fishmonger?
As a lover of seafood, I've seen the examples for sale in supermarkets and it leaves a lot to be desired. I certainly wouldn't buy any of it. This town is say...50 minutes from the coast? Why don't south eastern towns like Tonbridge buy this readily available produce and sell it? With todays modern transport, fish could be taken straight to the shop within an hour of being caught. That way, you would be supporting local trade, and enjoying the taste of "fresh" fish.
Somebody Pleeeeaaase open a decent fishmonger!!!
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