[Kate!]

went into town and over to WHSmiths and it's closed, completely out of the blue, was only in there on Monday and it was bustling, well ok bustling is stretching it somewhat for St Helens town centre, but there were plenty people in looking round and getting served?

RIP local WHSmiths, I will miss you....

Hope it's not a sign for things to come in other towns

[arista]

Originally Posted by *Kate*

went into town and over to WHSmiths and it's closed, completely out of the blue, was only in there on Monday and it was bustling, well ok bustling is stretching it somewhat for St Helens town centre, but there were plenty people in looking round and getting served?

RIP local WHSmiths, I will miss you....

Hope it's not a sign for things to come in other towns

Sadly AsdaWalmart
has a section like WH Smiths
but better prices

[GiRTh]

sign of the times.

[T*]

Oh god SOUTHPORT WHSMITH STAY STRONG!

[joe199998293]

There's like six in Leeds city centre, I'll be safe.

[Alf]

I'm gonna be in St Helens tomorrow night, going to langtree park to watch the rugby.

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by wannashag

I'm gonna be in St Helens tomorrow night, going to langtree park to watch the rugby.

rugby league >>>>> any other sport.

[alex_front2]

Not suprised, loads of supermarkets and online retailere doing similar products but cheaper. For example news and info is mainly online, Tescos sells trashy mags like OK, Star and New in a bundle at a cheaper rate, Sainsbury do stationery, plenty of cheap card alternatives like online Moon Pig which offer personalised service, in fact do kids send cards or just tweets, cheap supermarket sweets and drinks, plus I've seen businessman slip 2p into the honesty neespaper payment tin and walk out with the Times.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Others have moved on but Smiths has stayed ..stationary

[InOne]

Pawn shops, seedy arcades, pound shops, CEX and McDonald's rule the high street now. A carphone warehouse if you're lucky.

[Kate!]

Oh you've been here then Joe

That's just spot on what it's like. It's crap. I'm ashamed of it. God job we've got an amazing rugby league side to restore a bit of pride.

[InOne]

It's like that in some places in Yorkshire too. Loads of towns on the way out of Halifax and into Lancashire seemed to have gone the same way.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by InOne

Pawn shops, seedy arcades, pound shops, CEX and McDonald's rule the high street now. A carphone warehouse if you're lucky.

I know, don't forget argos though

[InOne]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I know, don't forget argos though

Argos is hidden away in the shopping centre lol

[Josy]

Originally Posted by InOne

Pawn shops, seedy arcades, pound shops, CEX and McDonald's rule the high street now. A carphone warehouse if you're lucky.

Add in about 12 charity shops and you have just described most of the bigger towns around here too.

[InOne]

Originally Posted by Josy

Add in about 12 charity shops and you have just described most of the bigger towns around here too.

A few of our charity shops have closed down but there's still quite a few about.

[InOne]

Oh and not to mention at least one betting shop on every corner

[michael21]

http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/1...osure_rumours/

RUMOURS that the town’s most iconic shop is to close have been firmly quashed.

Managing director Ali Tyrer confirms it’s very much business as usual at Tyrers’ Bridge Street department store, which last year notched up its 125th anniversary.

The statement comes as a welcome relief against the growing casualty list of stores which have ceased trading in St Helens town centre.

WH Smith is the latest business to shut amid hard times on the high street. Others to join the retail exodus in recent times have included HMV, Miss Selfridge, Currys, Kamera and a number of independent clothes stores.

Ali, a staunch champion of the independent sector in St Helens, told the Star: “We have heard there is widespread talk that we are about to cease trading. I can assure all our loyal customers we are still very much alive and kicking.

“It’s certainly true that Tyrers like many other similar businesses has been hit hard by the economic downturn.

“It’s never easy to come up with a long-term forecast, but we believe when the predicted upturn finally reaches St Helens and people start spending again, we should have weathered the worst of the stormy conditions which have been lashing the high street.”

“I accept we must innovate and make sure we are satisfying the demands of existing customers and the new shoppers we want to attract to the shop.

“But I promise all our customers, old and new, will get that same Tyrers personal service which has been at the core philosophy of our family business all these years.”

After taking over as MD after the death of her father John Tyrer almost 12 years ago, Ali transformed what had been a traditional store into a ‘boutique shopping experience’.

But the store, which employs 75 people, has had to face the challenges of out-of-town retail parks, chain store discounting and the migration by consumers to buy online.

As the recession hit home, the team at Tyrers came up with a package of measures to attract new shoppers, including the revamped restaurant on the top floor.

Ali added: “I am so very grateful for the continued support of all my super staff and customers who have all played their part in our battle to defy the economic odds.

“I am under no illusions that a tough road lies ahead of us.

“But I am determined that Tyrers will still be at the heart of St Helens town centre for many years to come.”

yes whsmiths has gone for ever kate in your town only

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by wannashag

I'm gonna be in St Helens tomorrow night, going to langtree park to watch the rugby.

Will you survive the trip without WH Smiths?


I used to love that shop when I was younger..but now it seems to be totally overpriced. Not surprised they are shutting down

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Catweazel

Others have moved on but Smiths has stayed ..stationary

thats corny but pretty pretty good

[Tom4784]

I live next to two town centres, one's gone completely down the pan since it's right next to Merry Hill which is this big shopping centre and the other one's still going on strong but it'll probably die soon since they're moving the town centre to the previously mentioned one. It's pretty pointless since the pretty-much-dead town centre only has a supermarket and a few second hand shops so I on't understand what there is to gain by making that one the official town centre.