Hope for business owners after the Bank Buildings fire disaster

Street yesterday, optimistic traders told the Mirror of their hopes for a festive boost after a difficult few months.

Justin Milligan at phone repair shop iphix is hopeful his store will benefit from the expected major footfall increase. He said: “We’re quite excited about the opening of Primark, mainly because we’re on Castle Street and the only way in and out of the store is Castle Street. “For our figure’s sake, if you get 30,000 people in in one day they have to pass twice. “We’re getting our advertising sorted, our street signs sorted, to try and capture as much of that footfall as we can.”

Conway Opticians manager Pat Moore said recent months have felt like the street had “died”.

She added “It’s been really awful. It’s become very quiet, the street has just been a building site.

“I think it [Primark opening] should make a considerable difference.

“A lot of our customers have been saying they’re looking forward to it.

“They’ve opened up the street and they’ve cleaned it up for the opening. That alone has lifted our spirits.”

Tony Magennis at Fruiterama is directly across from the Primark store.

He said: “From the fire things have