What shops/services would we like on the High Street?

Gordon Mackenzie · Post by **Gordon Mackenzie** » 26 Jan 2010, 15:34

Inspired by the thread about what people in Porty would like in the way of a food shop, I wondered if we couldn’t expand the idea to encourage more of the kind of shops people want to the High St.

Perhaps the Community Council could conduct a survey of what kind of shops people would actually use and how often, what kind of goods in services they would rather not have to go into to town for, whether or not they would be prepared to pay slightly more for local convenience. etc etc. This could then all be put into a presentation pack with some additional stats about Porty, number of residents, demographic breakdown, average income ranges perhaps (?), number of visitors from other parts etc, and perhaps a list of empty shop properties in Porty and their respective estate agents.

These packs could then be published on the internet, given to the Evening news with a press release, and perhaps even sent to the kind of businesses which come top of the survey and which are operating elsewhere with an invitation to consider opening a new branch in Portobello. With some of the initial market research already done and an indication of public demand, they might well consider it. It wouldn’t be too expensive to do, and it could introduce a bit of people power into the High St and encourage a bit of new growth in the town.
What do you think?

Here are a few ideas for starters: (let me know if they already exist and I just haven’t noticed!)

1. A shoe repair and keycutting place ( Could be a concession in an existing shop)
2. A really good toy shop. There are loads of young families who live or regularly visit here, and we are by the seaside after all! Perhaps also selling kids books.
3. A shoe shop.
4. A selection of boutique clothes shops.
5. A photography studio for taking pix of all those kids and for selling nice postcards and pictures of Porty.
6. A book shop.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 26 Jan 2010, 17:55

A dry cleaners

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 26 Jan 2010, 18:06

Many of the shop types you mention have been in Porty at some time during my years here but have eventually dwindled away with the growth of the supermarkets, large multiples and the internet. We do have some some of your suggestions already though:

The wool shop at the top of Marlborough Street does magic shoe repairs - they send them away to a proper cobbler and it generally only takes a couple of days.

Home Hardware (Mica) cut keys and I have always found them to do a really good job.

I am amazed that we do not even merit a dry cleaners anymore.

Gordon Mackenzie · Post by **Gordon Mackenzie** » 26 Jan 2010, 18:57

Top tip about the wool shop.

The hardware shop is a fantastic local shop - I'm in it all the time and try to use it in preference to B&Q etc. - I should have known they do keys.

I've thought of another one. A healthy foods supermarket, like Realfoods in Broughton St, which never seems to be empty.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 26 Jan 2010, 22:15

Somewhere that sells decent tights!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 26 Jan 2010, 23:15

As opposed to indecent tights?

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 27 Jan 2010, 13:52

I think the key to local shops is how 'immediate' the product or service is.

Food/Drink outlets sell consumable items which are to be used straight away. So people want them nearby.

The same with key cutting, shoe repair, computer repair etc.

For people to travel to porty the shops have to be unique, Fishing tackle / bikes and blades etc.

I don't think clothing/shoe boutiques would do well, as they are reasonably common and they are grouped in the city centre, people would rather browse a selection of shops in one area than browse 5 or 6 shopes on george street then get the bus to Porty and back to look in one shop.

However I don't think that holds true for wedding dress shops, or a shop where the clothes/shoes are made for you, as that is a pretty unique service.

All that said, if there was a single shop that sold snowboards/video games, cheese and sausage I'd probably be in there every day.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 27 Jan 2010, 17:35

What about opening a shop yourself?- If you could figure a way to make shoes or wedding dresses out of cheese and/or sausages it would certainly be unique. Chorizo cardigans and mozarella moccasins don't seem that far fetched considering we've been to the moon.

And in terms of ongoing product development; I can see no reason why that type of apparell couldn't have onboard video games.

Not got a good feeling about the snowboard range tho.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 27 Jan 2010, 21:48

a bookshop would be great

Generally though quite happy with the shops in Porty, (apart from too many charity shops/sandwich shops) all immediate things are nearby - if I need anything else I get in town/fort/asda/musselburgh.

Lima · Post by **Lima** » 27 Jan 2010, 22:20

Not needing a new shop but somewhere that will sell Illy coffee to take away.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 27 Jan 2010, 23:00

mozarella moccasins

is that for those that have cheesy feet?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 28 Jan 2010, 11:17

I'll whisper it. A Starbucks to accompany Seanie's evil Taco Bell.

westbank · Post by **westbank** » 28 Jan 2010, 22:52

What we need is a stoatin big supermarket that would supply all our needs, whats that oh we have been there before, oops.

Post by **wangi** » 28 Jan 2010, 22:58

Off licence open till 10pm (I really like The Fine Wine Company in Musselburgh and Portobello, but 9pm closing?)

Shops open after 5pm...

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 29 Jan 2010, 10:55

Marya wrote: I'll whisper it. A Starbucks to accompany Seanie's evil Taco Bell.

I am mega missing the Starbucks in Borders Books at the Fort but if there was one in Porty High Street that would help.

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 29 Jan 2010, 18:13

Costa or Nero, Starbucks is wrong

cornerboy · Post by **cornerboy** » 08 Feb 2010, 17:37

Why would we need a Starbucks when we have the Blue Bean, Mei Lee, Kitcheners? Mei Lee in particular does fantastic coffee. You'd be hard pushed to find a better cup in Edinburgh.

cornerboy · Post by **cornerboy** » 08 Feb 2010, 17:41

Should have mentioned the Beach House and Espy too (as long as you ask for Americano in the Beach House, and not the filter).

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 08 Feb 2010, 20:57

Find the Espy coffee beans a bit bitter but will try the others.

Lima · Post by **Lima** » 09 Feb 2010, 14:38

Having had coffee in both the Mei Lee and Blue Bean I would welcome a Costa, Nero or even a Starbucks.

Not sure if I had a poorly trained Barrista or someone having a bad day but in Mei Lee the large cup was pretty small, not full and not that hot. The Blue Bean cafe, again the cup was not big enough - close to the the size of a medium in starbucks or costa (maybe slightly under) and the milk was burnt thus ruining my coffee. I now prefer to go along to popeyes or Izzys, not tried Kitcheners, will pop in there soon.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 09 Feb 2010, 16:22

Lima, I must say that your experiences are pretty similar to mine although I have yet to coffee in Izzy's or Popeye's. Kitchener's used to do black coffee with a lovely crema on top but it is now so hit and miss that I hardly bother going anymore. There is definitely a skill to making the coffee properly so your experience can often boil down to which member of staff actually serves you.

My favourite for some time has been the Starbucks cafe Estima brew which is also faitrade certified.

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

What shops/services would we like on the High Street?

What shops/services would we like on the High Street?

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