The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Shock as 15:17 store at former Debenhams site shuts within five weeks
Fife traders have been left reeling after the shock closure of one of Kirkcaldy’s newest high street stores.
15:17, which opened in the former Debenhams unit just five weeks ago, has already shut up shop.
And a number of businesses that ran concessions within the building are now homeless and thousands of pounds out of pocket.
15:17 leases space to small businesses and, in most cases, takes commission from their sales.
Traders were told on Monday that the shop would close. It did not reopen yesterday.
Kelly Brown of luxury home fragrance boutique Rock N Rose Aromas, thinks she has lost more than £1,000.
She said she had been left devastated by the sudden closure after finding out through a group Whatsapp message on Monday night.
“Over the past five weeks I’ve made more than £1,000 of sales and I’ve not seen a penny of it,” said Kelly.
“Now the shop’s been closed and I’ve been told to go in for my stock.
“All my customers have been trying to support me so have been coming to the shop instead of buying through my Facebook page.
“I’m really angry I’ve put their hard-earned money into this.”
Another operator said they had been asked to clear their stock by the end of the day on Monday.
“I went to work and was told the store was going into liquidation,” said the disappointed trader.
“They said the 15:17 in the Ayr store would continue. We were told to pack up our things by the end of the day. It was a shock.”
The launch of 15:17 was
hailed as hugely positive for Kirkcaldy’s High Street, which has suffered a number of high-profile closures over the past few years.
By sub-dividing the large retail space, it offered a leg-up to traders who would otherwise be unable to operate in the town centre. It also has stores in Ayr, Harlow and Worthing.
But the first signs of trouble appeared at the weekend when the sign was removed from the front of the building.
Kelly said: “You put your trust in these places and then this happens.
“It was a really nice idea
to have something like a department store you could get anything in.
“A lot of positive things could have happened but now everybody’s lost money and we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Other businesses were hopeful the format could still prove successful.
Gemma Lumsden of crystal gift shop Something Magick said she had been busy in the shop.
She said: “I am really, really sad. I think it had the potential to be a really busy shop.”
Katie Lockwood, managing director, of children’s clothing firm
Little Lord and Lady expressed her sadness at the sudden closure.
She said: “Rejuvenating the High Street is something we want to do.
“We would love to be part of any future there is for the store in Kirkcaldy.”
Danny Cepok, development manager with community organisation Love Oor Lang Toun, said the closure is disappointing.
“It’s such a shame this has happened.
“I suppose the only thing we can hope for is somebody might come along and take it over.”
15:17 did not respond to a request for comment.