Traders voice concerns as they reopen
TWO of the businesses which have reopened near the Primark building have voiced concerns over how they will fare in the Christmas period.
Representatives for Argento and Spar said they had reservations regarding the new walkway that links Royal Avenue to Donegall Place.
McDonald’s, Argento and Skechers reopened yesterday for the first time since the blaze — with Spar set to start trading today.
But Zara, Tesco Metro and the British Heart Fountain remain closed.
Primark will open at Commonwealth House, Castle Street, on Saturday.
Peter Boyle, the CEO and founder of Argento, said: “We’re pleased to be open, but really we expected the whole area to be finished more than this.
“As far as we’re concerned as retailers, they should have shut down the site for the 20 days.
Spar shop assistant Samantha Kane throws out old stock and (right) Argento CEO Peter Boyle
“We have 20 days to go until Christmas Eve, the most important 20 days in the retail calendar; we don’t know why this construction work can’t wait.
“Just no consideration for the retailers’ needs at all.”
He added: “It’s really hard because we want to go with the positive message that we are open in Belfast and we’re delighted to be open after 100 days closed, but we didn’t intend trading on a building site either, you know.”
Meanwhile, workers from
Spar could be seen emptying stock into a skip.
Shop assistant Samantha Kane (30) said: “Literally everything in the shop has to be thrown away.
“All the chocolate and everything was melted, there was a bit of smoke damage on everything and there was goods out-of-date.”
She added: “I’m absolutely gutted, like we’re just out of everything. It’s just a mess for everybody and a load of people have lost their jobs, but we can only start over again
and hope for the best.” Asked how she thought the walkway would help business, she said: “It could be slow I think, with all that outside and the tunnel, so we’ll just have to take baby steps I think.”
However, Rajesh Rana, who is the president of Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said that the reopening of the businesses in the area was “fantastic news”.
He said: “Today marks a positive start to December for businesses throughout the city.”