Eleanor Robertson - closing down

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Jan 2006, 12:46

Eleanor Robertson, whose husband is the former owner of the Blue Bean CafÃ©, is having a closing down sale at her ladies clothing shop at the top of Bellfield Street. It's disappointing to be losing a quality shop and hopefully we will get something of value to replace it.

On this subject, who can identify the author of this famous quote?

Maybe just me - but the majority of the stuff is overpriced and normally could do with a good ironing.

Shopfitters are working in Kirkwoods at present and rumour has it that Marie Curie is moving in, presumably on a short-term lease.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 07 Jan 2006, 13:06

It's the curse of POL.

The quote was from Gemini.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 07 Jan 2006, 14:53

Just noticed the ad re Closing Down sale in the Hootsmon - also closing down the Haddington branch.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 07 Jan 2006, 19:20

Poppy wrote:Just noticed the ad re Closing Down sale in the Hootsmon - also closing down the Haddington branch.

Yeah noticed it too Poppy - its a shame as it was a good local shop - have bought several things there - though always in sale time! Will need to see if I can get any bargains.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 07 Jan 2006, 19:21

Like Portobello needs another Charity shop?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 07 Jan 2006, 19:43

Sandra wrote:Like Portobello needs another Charity shop?

Know what you mean, but some are quite good at selling new stuff too.

Anyway, better than empty with posters peeling off the windows!!

Post by **wangi** » 07 Jan 2006, 20:19

Some dodgy morals going on... a charity shop is better than a betting shop...

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Jan 2006, 20:57

I don't think anyone here would dispute that. But at the same time it's an important corner site and it would have been nice to have had something that added value to the High Street. Graham Kitchener was rumoured to have been interested at one point - an extended deli perhaps with the existing shop given over to a larger cafÃ©. I think that would have been a very good move.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 07 Jan 2006, 21:51

Bob Jefferson wrote:I don't think anyone here would dispute that. But at the same time it's an important corner site and it would have been nice to have had something that added value to the High Street. Graham Kitchener was rumoured to have been interested at one point - an extended deli perhaps with the existing shop given over to a larger cafÃ©. I think that would have been a very good move.

Not if you want to make a profit

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Jan 2006, 22:15

I'm not a businessman PoP, and perhaps just as well, but anyone can see that both the deli and cafÃ© suffer at present from lack of space.

An extended cafÃ© would certainly do good business - at present it's just too small and cramped. And I know that Porty has posted previously on the overheads that would be involved in the Kirkwoods site but they can't be so prohibitive that a well-established, successful business can't turn a profit with an extended range, perhaps including wine sales? (I'll bet that lots of people told Graham that Portobello couldn't support a deli when he started out.)

If this is the case, what type of business do you think would be successful on this site, other than a bookmaker?

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 07 Jan 2006, 22:35

Poppy wrote:Know what you mean, but some are quite good at selling new stuff too. !

The problem with charity shops selling new stuff is that they aren't paying the same overheads as other shopkeepers although they might be stocking similar goods, therefore they're really taking profits that other shopkeepers could be getting

. And lets face it, we all like a bargain but it's a bit off when the only clothes you can buy locally are somebody elses!

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 07 Jan 2006, 23:17

Epykat wrote:it's a bit off when the only clothes you can buy locally are somebody elses!

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 07 Jan 2006, 23:18

Bob I agree with you I think a deli would be an excellent idea for the Eleanor Robertson site.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Jan 2006, 23:27

Ah, I think we have some confusion here. I was talking about the Kirkwoods site.

Post by **wangi** » 07 Jan 2006, 23:57

Bob Jefferson wrote:I don't think anyone here would dispute that.

I'd dispute that - the council should be leaving it to market forces. A commercial tenent was wanting to rent that site and that was KO'd by the council. As a result the site has been empty for many months (loosing money for the owner) and sitting empty. I willing to bet the rent the charity will be paying is less than the bookies would have paid...

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 08 Jan 2006, 00:11

Bob Jefferson wrote:Ah, I think we have some confusion here. I was talking about the Kirkwoods site.

Even better Bob!! - bigger shop!

and just across the road from current shop.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Jan 2006, 12:36

wangi wrote: I willing to bet the rent the charity will be paying is less than the bookies would have paid...

You would lose the bet.

The landlord will charge the same rent. However, charity shops do not have to pay commercial rates and can therefore turn otherwise unprofitable outlets into profit makers. Had bookies been succesful they would have paid about Â£35k in rent and a further Â£17k in rates. A charity shop would only pay the Â£35k in rent and they don't have salaries to pay or stock to buy. Landlords love charities as they always pay their bills and have longer life expectancy as tenants.

As for kitcheners? Grahams current occupancy costs (and its an educated guess) are about Â£17-20k per annum including rates and I believe he owns the premises. It would be commercial suicide for him to triple his occupancy costs and become a tenant instead of an owner.

Bob, were you confusing Eleanor Roberston's site with Lauren Elizabeth?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Jan 2006, 12:57

Bob Jefferson wrote: (I'll bet that lots of people told Graham that Portobello couldn't support a deli when he started out.)

No wonder bookies are so keen to move into Porty.

Graham did not start the deli, he bought an already profitable business. Indeed he is the 3rd owner/operator, although he did introduce the trademark "invisible customer" marketing strategy.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 09 Jan 2006, 14:11

Bob Jefferson wrote:An extended cafÃ© would certainly do good business - at present it's just too small and cramped. And I know that Porty has posted previously on the overheads that would be involved in the Kirkwoods site but they can't be so prohibitive that a well-established, successful business can't turn a profit with an extended range, perhaps including wine sales?

I would imagine that moving the Deli into Kirkwoods would double its occupancy costs - a massive hike for any business even if there may be some opportunity for additional sales growth. It is a difficult decision that requires careful thought but one fraught with danger.

Argos at the Fort for example (have you ever seen that shop empty?) are in the process of re-locating a few doors up into the old 'Millars Electricals' store. This is actually a SMALLER unit and the move is being driven totally by the need to keep their overheads to a minimum - they believe they will not lose any sales.

It is a tough life out there making money!

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 09 Jan 2006, 14:22

Pal of Porty wrote: It is a tough life out there making money!

My heart bleeds for all of the hardworking employers.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 09 Jan 2006, 14:26

Porty wrote:Bob, were you confusing Eleanor Roberston's site with Lauren Elizabeth?

It's definitely Eleanor Robertson that is closing, not Lauren Elizabeth.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Jan 2006, 15:39

I know but Bob was talking about extending the deli, I'm confused.

Was/is Margaret from Lauren Elizabeth married to Mr Bean?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 09 Jan 2006, 15:51

It was the Kirkwood's site that Bob mentioned as a possible deli. He's hopeless at thread discipline

Is Margaret Epykat's cousin? And are you referring to the current Mr Bean or the ex-Mr Bean? Eleanor Robertson's hubby used to be Mr Bean, I believe.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Jan 2006, 16:39

There's only one Mr Bean but I wasn't aware that he was married to Epykat's cousin. Graham kitchener was married when he bought the deli but I don't think it was to Eleanor Roberston. She didn't come on the scene til years after.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 09 Jan 2006, 18:07

OK, we're at the Venn diagram stage now. The thread was about the closure of Eleanor Robertson's shop, but I just happened to mention en passant* the situation at Kirkwood's. So we end up with two topics for the price of one and confusion all round.

*Forgive my pretentiousness but this phrase sprang to mind following a recent game of chess with my son, who tried to remove one of my pawns under the guise of some obscure (to me anyway) 500 year old rule of this name that he had just read about. Whoops, another tangent!

Jackson Priest · Post by **Jackson Priest** » 09 Jan 2006, 18:14

Bob Jefferson wrote:*Forgive my pretentiousness but this phrase sprang to mind following a recent game of chess with my son, who tried to remove one of my pawns under the guise of some obscure (to me anyway) 500 year old rule of this name that he had just read about. Whoops, another tangent!

Ah, the old En Passant move. Not a lot of people know about that one. He should be commended.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 09 Jan 2006, 20:58

Cheating I call it. Kids, don't beat your dad at chess - it will only make him grumpy.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 09 Jan 2006, 21:49

Porty wrote:Was/is Margaret from Lauren Elizabeth married to Mr Bean?

Nope, she's married to my cousin - and we're not related to any beans that we know of

. It's nice to know that Marya is keeping up

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 09 Jan 2006, 21:56

Epykat wrote: - and we're not related to any beans that we know of....

Not even Baked?

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 09 Jan 2006, 21:58

Pal of Porty wrote:
Epykat wrote: - and we're not related to any beans that we know of....
Not even Baked?

Now....half baked we possibly do

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 10 Jan 2006, 16:02

Epykat wrote:
Porty wrote:Was/is Margaret from Lauren Elizabeth married to Mr Bean?
Nope, she's married to my cousin - and we're not related to any beans that we know of . It's nice to know that Marya is keeping up

So was Graham married to Eleanor then? And where does Mr Bean fit in to all of this?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 10 Jan 2006, 18:03

I'm not sure, but I can report that you have succeeded in causing so much confusion on this thread that my wife was today told as gospel that Lauren Elizabeth was closing down and Kitchener's was changing hands.

Gossip, tittle-tattle and, oh yes - complete fiction. Try to forget that you read it here first.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 10 Jan 2006, 18:34

Are you saying that your wife used to be married to Epykat's cousin?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 10 Jan 2006, 19:08

Yes, that's precisely what I'm saying.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 10 Jan 2006, 21:51

Thank god for that. I thought you were going to tell us that John Williamson is going out with the one of the chain smokers from the travel agents.