by Sue de Nimm
•
12 February 2024
Last Friday (9/2/24) was pivotal as the first 'time out' for our HotWalls Urban Gallery (HUG) concept in The Walk, Ipswich. With over twelve-months invested in reconnaissance, due diligence and seeing what unfolds in the unhealthy scheme of things in a town with above national average empty shops, we have reluctantly withdrawn our business loan application for the HUG installations and our first artisan coffee shop prospect. Having failed to reach terms with the sales agent of an ailing café with no verifiable turnover, and then with the new letting agent for commercial premises that have lain empty for over 14 months, we are left wondering what more could have be done to help get this deal over the line? The shop unit featured in our blog today, one of nine similar long-term empty high street properties, has been empty for 10 years, or more. And yet, it seems no one wants to improve the appearance of this ailing shopping centre with a HUG and new lease of life. Maybe tomorrow?