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Empty units dog Arndale Centre
Struggling small traders a headache for mall
Lingerie shop Bare Essentials has pulled out of Luton's Arndale Centre, where it has traded for 10 years.
The shop, which closed on Friday, had hoped to negotiate a new rent deal with the shopping centre or arrange a move to another unit.
Arndale management said that the shop had come to the end of its lease and had been offered a reduced rate, but had chosen not to renew.
A spokesperson said: "We are disappointed to lose this independent retailer but we are currently looking at interested parties and hope to have another independent trader prior to Christmas."
Shoppers have been wondering about the number of empty shop windows in the shopping centre. Seven units are empty, six of which have To Let posters in the windows.
This is not including the three shops that are currently being refurbished, Venue, Smart Baggage and Meat Inn.
Although Venue will reopen this week and the butcher shop plans to be back in its premises tomorrow, Smart Baggage will not return until October 30.
Former DVD shop Silverscreen cannot be let again as yet because the company went into administration, so the unit must be left until the administrators have finished their work.
Brian McFarland, the centre manager, said: "We had so many people go broke on us earlier in the year, but we do hope to have some shops trading with us temporarily for the Christmas period."
At the launch of the new-look Arndale, it was mentioned that it hoped to bring in more stores that offered foodstuffs, and outlets like Costa coffee have been a welcome addition to the centre.
So is the Arndale now trying to bring in specific shops and edge out others in line with its new image?
Mr McFarland said: "We always have a preference for what we would like to see trading but it's a question of having the right size units and location to suit them. That's the biggest issue really.
"There aren't many large units available as those people already trading are happy where they are, so are not going to move.
"Therefore new large units big enough to house some new names are not available," he said.
A new shop did open on Thursday in Central Square – 3 store – selling mobile phones and contracts for the 3 network.
The Arndale is also hoping to have another shop open before Christmas, although centre management would not disclose which high street name it would be.
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Weather for Bedford
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
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Wind direction: South west
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Sunny spells
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