Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[Guest Lako42]

40 minutes ago, davieG said:

 

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/iconic-leicester-store-blunts-shoes-9844278?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2LD3q2wbDFlokydrPxOWHyqhsf7aDSxeykS94Q--lNEA8v-ZSYx15soeY_aem_wLybm-wSVFrZsVkaM9HfGg#Echobox=1736268874

 

Iconic Leicester store Blunts Shoes confirms closure
The store has been in Leicester since the 1980s

ByTom MackSenior Reporter

 

Iconic Leicester city centre store Blunts Shoes is to close its doors for the final time later this year. Bosses have blamed falling footfall for the end of the shoe business which has been a mainstay in the city for 40 years.

The iconic Granby Street store is among the first people see when arriving in Leicester by train, but it will close in the coming weeks after Blunts head office in Kidderminster decided it was no longer financially viable to remain open.

 

Jazmin Blunt from Blunts head office said the news was "sad" to announce. She said: "After 40 wonderful years, we are sad to announce the closing of our Blunts Shoes Leicester store. It has been an honour to serve this community, and we are truly grateful for your support and loyalty over the years."

Blunts, which has 10 other shops across the region, also owns United Footwear in Newbold Verdon. The company has confirmed that store, which is to the west of Leicester, will remain open.

 

Makes a nice vape emporium 

[Stuntman_Mike]

Made a rare trip up town in the week yesterday and it was unbelievably grim 

 

The weather didn't help and obviously it's the first week back to 'normal,' but it just had this really depressing atmosphere. Shame

 

 

[RoboFox]

17 hours ago, davieG said:

 

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/iconic-leicester-store-blunts-shoes-9844278?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2LD3q2wbDFlokydrPxOWHyqhsf7aDSxeykS94Q--lNEA8v-ZSYx15soeY_aem_wLybm-wSVFrZsVkaM9HfGg#Echobox=1736268874

 

Iconic Leicester store Blunts Shoes confirms closure
The store has been in Leicester since the 1980s

ByTom MackSenior Reporter

 

Iconic Leicester city centre store Blunts Shoes is to close its doors for the final time later this year. Bosses have blamed falling footfall for the end of the shoe business which has been a mainstay in the city for 40 years.

The iconic Granby Street store is among the first people see when arriving in Leicester by train, but it will close in the coming weeks after Blunts head office in Kidderminster decided it was no longer financially viable to remain open.

 

Jazmin Blunt from Blunts head office said the news was "sad" to announce. She said: "After 40 wonderful years, we are sad to announce the closing of our Blunts Shoes Leicester store. It has been an honour to serve this community, and we are truly grateful for your support and loyalty over the years."

Blunts, which has 10 other shops across the region, also owns United Footwear in Newbold Verdon. The company has confirmed that store, which is to the west of Leicester, will remain open.

 

Poor "blunts & hoes" as it's affectionately been known by just me ever since the "s" fell off the signage once. 

 

A shame, but not at all surprising. 

[Guest Lako42]

4 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

Made a rare trip up town in the week yesterday and it was unbelievably grim 

 

The weather didn't help and obviously it's the first week back to 'normal,' but it just had this really depressing atmosphere. Shame

 

 

Pretty much everywhere this week I'd imagine 

[Muzzy_no7]

This still a question? 
 

It was relatively OK 12-25 years ago but now it’s just an absolute dive. 

[Samilktray]

1 minute ago, Muzzy_no7 said:

This still a question? 
 

It was relatively OK 12-25 years ago but now it’s just an absolute dive. 

Parts of it are shite and parts of it are alright

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

10 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

Made a rare trip up town in the week yesterday and it was unbelievably grim 

 

The weather didn't help and obviously it's the first week back to 'normal,' but it just had this really depressing atmosphere. Shame

 

 

 

Did you expect a carnival atmosphere on the first Tuesday back at work after Christmas 

[Free Falling Foxes]

On 07/01/2025 at 18:59, davieG said:

 

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/iconic-leicester-store-blunts-shoes-9844278?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2LD3q2wbDFlokydrPxOWHyqhsf7aDSxeykS94Q--lNEA8v-ZSYx15soeY_aem_wLybm-wSVFrZsVkaM9HfGg#Echobox=1736268874

 

Iconic Leicester store Blunts Shoes confirms closure
The store has been in Leicester since the 1980s

ByTom MackSenior Reporter

 

Iconic Leicester city centre store Blunts Shoes is to close its doors for the final time later this year. Bosses have blamed falling footfall for the end of the shoe business which has been a mainstay in the city for 40 years.

The iconic Granby Street store is among the first people see when arriving in Leicester by train, but it will close in the coming weeks after Blunts head office in Kidderminster decided it was no longer financially viable to remain open.

 

Jazmin Blunt from Blunts head office said the news was "sad" to announce. She said: "After 40 wonderful years, we are sad to announce the closing of our Blunts Shoes Leicester store. It has been an honour to serve this community, and we are truly grateful for your support and loyalty over the years."

Blunts, which has 10 other shops across the region, also owns United Footwear in Newbold Verdon. The company has confirmed that store, which is to the west of Leicester, will remain open.

 

Sad news indeed.

 

I wonder what will become of the wonderful looking building? If not retail, I wonder if it could be converted into flats for individuals/small families. Or even a shop below and flats above?

Unless Sir Pete sees another opportunity for yet more student accomodation that is.

Edited 9 January 2025 by Free Falling Foxes

[Guest Lako42]

1 hour ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

Sad news indeed.

 

I wonder what will become of the wonderful looking building? If not retail, I wonder if it could be converted into flats for indivuduals/small families. Or even a shop below and flats above?

Unless Sir Pete sees another opportunity for yet more student accomodation that is.

Whatever type of accommodation it becomes you can guarantee the new occupants will have zero pride / respect in it and it will be a shithole within a year. 

Edited 9 January 2025 by Lako42

[Stuntman_Mike]

11 hours ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

Did you expect a carnival atmosphere on the first Tuesday back at work after Christmas 

Nah. You're lucky to get a carnival atmosphere at the carnival in Leicester. I just wasn't expecting that level of grim (whilst taking into account the day it was)

[Wymsey]

What is the old Marks and Spencer going to be on Gallowtree Gate?

[Guest Lako42]

17 minutes ago, Wymsey said:

What is the old Marks and Spencer going to be on Gallowtree Gate?

Largest vape emporium or deliveroo depot

[boots60]

1 hour ago, Wymsey said:

What is the old Marks and Spencer going to be on Gallowtree Gate?

50% Turkish barbers 50% Nail Bar

[Grebfromgrebland]

1 hour ago, Lako42 said:

Largest vape emporium or deliveroo depot

A deliveroo depo is actually a great idea. If it kept them from hanging around the streets in groups I'm for it. 

 

It would be good for them too somewhere to charge their bikes and eat all that stolen food.

[Dr The Singh]

42 minutes ago, boots60 said:

50% Turkish barbers 50% Nail Bar

What about the 10 phone repair shops i was about to open.

[Parafox]

5 hours ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

A deliveroo depo is actually a great idea. If it kept them from hanging around the streets in groups I'm for it. 

 

It would be good for them too somewhere to charge their bikes and eat all that stolen food.

And pick up the drugs for the "clients".

[Parafox]

6 hours ago, boots60 said:

50% Turkish barbers 50% Nail Bar

 

5 hours ago, Dr The Singh said:

What about the 10 phone repair shops i was about to open.

 

But you'll need room for a few hand car washes as well. 

[davieG]

8 hours ago, Wymsey said:

What is the old Marks and Spencer going to be on Gallowtree Gate?

They should move the market in there.

[Parafox]

35 minutes ago, davieG said:

They should move the market in there.

 

I think what character the market still has would be completely lost.

 

Having been to Coventry market, which is indoors, it is a soulless  place. No one calling out "get yer fresh (insert fruit or veg) 10 forra quid" like they do here.

 

We've got the indoor market selling meat and fish etc. That works. Everything else should be as it is IMO.

[davieG]

8 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

I think what character the market still has would be completely lost.

 

Having been to Coventry market, which is indoors, it is a soulless  place. No one calling out "get yer fresh (insert fruit or veg) 10 forra quid" like they do here.

 

We've got the indoor market selling meat and fish etc. That works. Everything else should be as it is IMO.

Im not sure how having it indoors stops those types of selling style rather than it's just dying out as dated.

[Parafox]

5 minutes ago, davieG said:

Im not sure how having it indoors stops those types of selling style rather than it's just dying out as dated.

 

Well, for me it's down to fond memories, I guess. 

 

It just seems that the indoor markets are dull, no vibrancy, selling poor (or even fake) products. They feel a bit like the old Donnington Market or a car boot sale.

Edited 9 January 2025 by Parafox

[davieG]

5 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

Well, for me it's down to fond memories, I guess. 

 

It just seems that the indoor markets are dull, no vibrancy, selling poor (or even fake) products. They feel a bit like the old Donnington Market or a car boot sale.

The M&S building is huge with high ceilings if it was managed properly with wide alleys and with controlled offerings, you could have a food market upstairs offering a choice of meals etc. Plus you can access it from Gallowtree Gate and Humberstone Gate. You could have late evening shopping in all weathers. Set up with a styling decor.

 

It would be secure vendors could leave their stalls assembled leave their goods out at night unlike the new idea for the market where they will have to dismantle all the stalls every night and store them somewhere.

[Parafox]

7 minutes ago, davieG said:

The M&S building is huge with high ceilings if it was managed properly with wide alleys and with controlled offerings, you could have a food market upstairs offering a choice of meals etc. Plus you can access it from Gallowtree Gate and Humberstone Gate. You could have late evening shopping in all weathers. Set up with a styling decor.

 

It would be secure vendors could leave their stalls assembled leave their goods out at night unlike the new idea for the market where they will have to dismantle all the stalls every night and store them somewhere.

 

You're not wrong and it's good in principle, but who would invest?

[davieG]

14 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

You're not wrong and it's good in principle, but who would invest?

Therein lies the problem. Fitting it out wouldn’t cost much different to Soulsbys idea but obviously they don’t own the building and I’m sure m&s want to get as much as they can, but who’s likely to take it on- Poundland , B&M etc.  Any elite shopping business would want to be in Highcross or Fosse Park like M&S. 

[Wymsey]

Leicester to expand its borders?..

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/sir-peter-soulsby-speaks-out-9852777