Forum Topic

Shoe shop finally gone

So the cheap shoe shop that used to be on the high street next to Superdrug finally closed.  As I was walking past today I heard someone working on the site tell someone it was going to be a Costa. Probably not good for Coffee Etc or the place next to Scope but I doubt it will worry Churchfield road and it will help bring the high street up a bit.  I don't remember the shoe shop ever looking very busy.

N Roberts ● 4908d23 Comments

For some of us Acton doesn't stop at Churchfield Road! Bully for the coffee shops there but I for one feel sorry for the ones in the High Street if a chain coffee shop opens nearby!

Olga Sidoryk ● 4908d

I agree, which is why I was on the high street.

N Roberts ● 4908d

Not keen on the service at Coffee Etc.  Cafe Dee-Lite has friendly staff and is doing its best to become a good 'working man's caff' - I suspect a Costa wouldn't put it out of business, and might attract other businesses.

Gill Hothersall ● 4908d

Interesting - the first chain of that sort - a bit of an indicator - and not turning out either particularly good or profitable enterprises.

Sara Nathan ● 4908d

That shoe shop has been closing down for 5 years or more. Good its finally gone

Phaddaeng Thumraksa ● 4908d

I struggle to understand some people on this forum.  You might not have wanted to buy shoes there but people did (though probably not enough to stop it closing down!)  To celebrate this and trumpet the arrival of yet another place to buy coffee strikes me as obtuse.  I would rather shops on the high street that sell useful things rather than some overpriced drinks that I can make at home.

Nigel Williams ● 4908d

The shop was handy for buying flat shoes for driving.  Now it's Chiswick and Chiswick prices.Soon our hospitals will become centres for caffeine addicts, who have to be weaned of the drug within these over priced often lousy tasting hot flavoured water drinks.

Nikki Howard ● 4908d

How on earth does another coffee shop 'bring the high street up"?  More Churchfield Road snobbery.  Or is the objection to 'cheap' shoes?  Maybe what the High Street needs is a designer shoe shop - Christian Louboutin, Prada etc? I don't think so.

Sandra Jordan ● 4907d

There are some shoe and/or boot stalls in the market aren't there? Maybe Nikki can find her flatties there. Or even some Prada or Louboutin (should I have heard of him/her?) knock offs.I'm a Mephisto girl myself and those aren't available in Acton OR Chiswick!

Sara Nathan ● 4907d

I think, if indeed it is true that Costa Coffee is coming to Acton, that it's a telling reflection on Acton's up and coming general state. Like them or loathe them, big name coffee shops coming into an area help to confirm what most of us already knew - that Acton continues to move up.All we have to do now is sort out the rest of Acton high Street and we're laughing!Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4907d

If you read the whole thread you will see I am not a Churchfield Road snob. People on here assume rather too much sometimes I don't think I'll bother again.  All I am saying is that the shoe shop was forever "closing down" and never seemed busy to me.  Will I go to Costa? No, but that  doesn't mean other people won't. There are a lot of empty shops on the high st and like them or not, here is a chain showing that it is willing to invest in the area and bring a modern shopfront to the high street, which may encourage others to fill some of those empty shops.

N Roberts ● 4907d

I wasn't getting at you N Roberts.  You weren't the one saying "Good that it's gone".  I agree that chains moving in might say something about how Acton is viewed by the big companies but it is a shame when a useful shop closes down.

Nigel Williams ● 4907d

...as long as it ia not going to be another betting shop..... we had all better check out the Council's license applications.....

Dee Cook ● 4907d

Or pound shop. And I have a mixed view of Estate Agents. Again, like Costa, they may be a good indicator that an area is becoming "desirable". But in themselves I suspect they have a deadening effect and don't promote footfall and wider spending.N.Roberts - don't be put off by the occasional assumption or put-down. Amongst the forums I ever visit (or twitter), this is by far the most civil and friendly!

Sara Nathan ● 4907d

No application for a betting shop submitted. Would planning permission be required for change of use from shop to restaurant/coffee shop? Not sure what the situation is regarding change of use applications!

Amanda Knights ● 4907d

I totally agree Costa doesn't bring a great experience to the high street or attract people into the area BUT it is a very strong indicator that the chains now see Acton as more prosperous and a place to do business .Surely better to have Costa than another Poundland or the  run down shops/cafes at the top of Churchfield road . Next M&S or Waitrose or better still some resataurants Pizza express .Might make it feel a bit safer to walk around on a dark night if we had some more family friendly places in the evening The area needs more balance than the current run down vibe , less betting shops and less shops selling cans of lager .Wouldn't it be good to buy the cheap shoes and also Louboutains in the one area ?

Peter Truesdale ● 4907d

Yes, you need planning permission for change of use from shop to restaurant and vice versa - one is A1 an the other A3 but I can't remember which is which. Unless its in breach  of a local plan (and sometimes even when it is) this is not generally hard to get through.

Sara Nathan ● 4906d

Have had a quick look at planning applications, but nothing in the last year for the site! I am sure one of the 'planning monitors' on the forum would have noticed it if it had been published.So, will it be a Costa or not? We will all have to wait and see!

Amanda Knights ● 4906d

It's definitely a Costa, Amanda, they've just put up the 'coming soon' posters in the windows.

Eoin Walsh ● 4905d

It would be good if it was open later than 5PM.

John Pollastrini ● 4904d

Can confirm that it is going to be a Costa.  Some jobs for our locals perhaps in the offing.

Dee Cook ● 4904d

Somebody told me this morning that Nando's are looking to move into the High Street. Is that a good thing?And is it a true one?

Sara Nathan ● 4904d

Anything that gets rid of all those very depressing shop fronts would be a help.At least Nandos would clean their windows!

Dee Cook ● 4903d