Fraserburgh’s high street has suffered a double blow with the confirmation that two retail outlets are closing down.
Shoebox on Broad Street and Stephens Newsagents on High Street will both shut their doors “in the next two or three months”, with the owners of both outlets announcing their retirement, as pressure builds on many north east businesses.
Euan Martin, the co-owner of Shoebox, said he and his business partner were getting out “at the right time” because the retail outlet has faced recent difficulties, including the fall-out from Brexit.
Mr Martin added: “Many of our loyal customers were European and, since the vote, a lot of them have moved away.”
Shoebox carries stock from Germany and Holland and Mr Martin has faced problems with the pound decreasing and import costs increasing.
He said: “If the German and Dutch brands don’t open warehouses in the UK, businesses will need to import stock themselves which involves businesses doing their own paperwork, so there will be customs declarations and quite possibly tariffs.”
Mr Martin also said the business had been hit by online shopping and argued that parking charges in the Broch community had proved another impediment to trade.
Once the remaining Shoebox stock has been sold, the owners are hoping to either rent or sell the premises, “but nothing has been decided yet.”
A spokeswoman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “It would be disappointing if people were to avoid our town centres because of an erroneous message that parking is expensive or difficult – it is neither.”
The spokesman said the new tariff was introduced to end an unsustainable deficit in the car park budget.
She said: “It gives one hour’s parking for just 50p and up to two hours for £1, meaning that parking for anything more than 30 minutes is cheaper than previously.
“We have not extended pay & display, so there are still a huge number of spaces for which we do not charge at all.”
Meanhile, Stephens Newsagents on High Street is up for sale. Staff declined to comment yesterday.
Councillor Charles Buchan said: “I would like to thank the owners of Shoebox and Stephen’s Newsagents for the service they have provided to the town over the years.”
