Walking through Waterlooville yesterday we noticed that the Toy Shop in Waterlooville is closing down.
Hot on the heels of the closure of Focus Sounds, the Rainbow Toy shop in Wellington Way appears to be the latest casualty of independent retailers in Waterlooville. An interesting juxtaposition shows that only this week Waterlooville celebrated with Marks and Spencers opened their new Simply Food store. The town is slowly being replaced by huge multinational/national companies and the independents are dying. What makes Waterlooville different from every other high street in the country? Why would people go out of their way to visit Waterlooville to do their shopping?
What will replace this shop unit? Another empty shop? Or can Waterlooville sustain another charity shop? Perhaps the rent and business rates are just so extortionate that having a retail business these days is so prohibitive. Waterlooville precinct is in danger of becoming a ghost town, whilst faceless national retailers battle it out in the land that was once an industrial estate.
Sadly, there is nothing at the end of this rainbow for the Rainbow Toy Shop.
Very sad! :( x
Unfortunately Graham is right. Yes big shops means more employment but you have to spare a thought for all the independent traders that are going under. :-(
Tis indeed. I went in there today and she’s closing to take care of her very ill mother. Shame somebody couldn’t buy the place and keep it going.
The amount of empty shops and closing shops in the precinct is horrible, and the opening of bigger stores only means the end of the precinct
It is a great shame,,,nothing like the local Toy shop when you are young
I have lived in Waterlooville all my life. It once was a great place to go shopping. Since this new housing development they have been closing, as the bigger companies are now taking over with the new complex being built. Its such a shame I loved the independent retailers where you got good customer service and quality products x
Shame, my kids get their completed sticker chart rewards there. Perhaps if they were better behaved we’d have shopped there more often. Nice shop but quiet whenever I was there.
No! ! !