Skate shop to shut down at weekend

ANOTHER business along a busy high street in East Bristol has announced it is to close down.

The Park Skate Shop on Church Road will be opening its doors for the last time on Saturday.

Owner James Stokes said he opened the shop back in 2009 and that business was really good until 2018, adding since then there has been a decline.

“During the pandemic, a lot of people got used to online shopping,” said the 40-year-old.

“Covid and the lockdowns were a definite turning point. The main reason (for the decline in business) is online – everyone just buys there now. Our rent is going up too, the landlord wants to double it.”

Mr Stokes – who thinks he will now look to get a delivery driver job – said another factor on the decline of the shop was losing the car park at the back of the shop, saying he feels there is nowhere for people to easily park by the shop. The business owner said they have also lost trade coming from users of the St George Park skate park.

“We also used to have a lot of teenagers coming on the weekends to use the skate park, but now it is really dangerous there as it needs work – resurfacing is well overdue,” claimed the 40-year-old.

After seeing several new shops open in recent years, Church Road has now lost several businesses over the past few months, including longstanding greasy spoon The Fountain and also newcomer Poco Deli. Popular cafe The Faraway Tree shocked nearby residents with its permanent closure last month after being open for nine years, blaming rising costs.

“Chatting to other people I think the whole high street is feeling the pinch unless you are something people can not get online like a barbers or a nail bar,” he added.