Shoppers all said the same thing about what they would like to see next in a vacant building in a prime city location. The spacious now empty store on Wheeler Gate, and the former bank of Nationwide branch, could be a craft shop according to shoppers' vision.
The 3,826 square footage (sq ft) asset is now being advertised as a prime retail opportunity located in the heart of the city. The unit, available for £57,500 per year, forms part of an attractive period development and has undergone extensive refurbishment incorporating a new traditional shop fascia. The premises are available for an insuring lease for a term of years to be agreed, subject to five yearly upward only rent reviews.
Paul Leamen, a computer programmer in Nottingham, was looking at the empty shop window and said: "There is quite a lot of cafes and charity shops in the city centre. It just needs something different, like a craft shop."
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The 50-year-old said the building at 11-13 Wheeler Gate should be turned into something "useful to everyone". He added: "I do not think that a high end store would suit the area here, because that is further up the road."
However he also had other suggestions too. "A hardware shop would also be useful, or a Savers store like the one we used to have in Broadmarsh."
Monika Stepinska, who came to Nottingham from Poland to visit a friend, added: "I came to Nottingham before and it is very different now. I think what it really needs is a nice craft shop. They are very popular now so I would not be surprised if everyone else thought the same."
The 32-year-old added: "I think that everyone realised how much we needed craft shops during the pandemic. Everyone loves crochets for example. There are no craft shops around, but you have three coffee shops all next to each other."
Konrad Stepinske however had a different view on what should replace the vacant building: "Definitely a local restaurant. We were looking to eat some traditional Nottingham food and there is nothing around - only McDonald's, Taco Bell, Five Guys and Burger King. All American - you cannot get a British breakfast in the city centre."
The 33-year-old, a furniture designer from Poland, added: "It is a shame because you want to have a taste of what Nottingham is like and you come here and everything is all just American chains."
Jenny Adams, who works in legal, added: "I would like to see a craft shop, or a gift shop. You do not have enough of those around here". The 55-year-old, who has lived in Nottingham all her life, added: "I do not think that a pub or another café would suit the area. We just need more shops."
She went on and said: "I lived here all my life and Nottingham has changed a lot. It just is not the place it once used to be. The city lost its energy. Take Lister Gate for example - it is empty. We just need more shops and energy back into the city."
