Businesses bring back buzz to Combie Street
BID4Oban has welcomed news that three new businesses are opening soon in Combie Street.
Chief executive Andrew Spence said it was ‘excellent’ news and that the businesses would breathe new life into that end of town.
‘We’re delighted to hear about the new businesses and look forward to them bringing more footfall to that end of town,’ he added.
Sophie Handley of The Estates Office, who agreed the letting of the shops, said it was proof that Oban was ‘resilient’ to being affected, like many other Scottish towns, by out-of-town shopping centres and online shopping.
‘While there is a perception within Scotland that town centre retailing has been severely affected by the internet and out-of-town shopping centres, towns such as Oban are resilient due to the town being the centre of a large catchment area which, with the arrival of Marks and Spencer, becomes a self-perpetuating hub,’ she said.
And she added: ‘The extension of the tourist season and the lowering of ferry fares has also played a factor in encouraging the take-up of retail space.’
The new businesses moving in are an estate agent, a clothing retailer called Clan Boss and Taste of Argyll.
Katherine MacDonald of Duntarrin Farm at Lerags is behind the Taste of Argyll shop opening in March. Oban and Lorn Riding for the Disabled has been using it previously as a pop-up charity shop.
Ms MacDonald already has 22 local producers on board who will be selling their varied products off the shelves and counter from fish to pies, candles to other crafts. There will also be sandwiches and a hot drinks machine for takeaways.
‘We already sell from the farm, go to festivals and are involved in the weekly food hub at Rockfield, but saw opening the shop in Combie Street as a great opportunity.
‘We’re going to see if we can be a collection point for anyone who can’t make the food hub’s pick-up times and we’re planning a bit of a taster event before we open in March. We’re very excited and hope we gets lots of support from people wanting to buy and eat local produce.’