A&M Bargains to close in Darwen (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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A&M Bargains to close in Darwen
9:00pm Monday 9th January 2012 in Business
A&M BARGAINS in Darwen is to close after 14 years of trading.
The store in Railway Road, which sells everything from food to clothes and toiletries, was opened in 1998 by Amanda Whittingham.
But after a steady decline in trade in recent years, Ms Whittingham has decided to close.
She said: “When I opened 14 years ago we did really well.
“Then, there was no Sainsbury’s or anything like that, and Railway Road was the main shopping strip.
“At dinnertime we would be full and I’d often have four tills going.
“But over the past three years it’s been a steady decline in trade and I simply cannot make ends meet.
“Now is the time to close, although I don’t want to.”
Ms Whittingham said a deal had been agreed with pub chain JD Wetherspoon to take over the building, but she was waiting for the final signature.
She said: “The contracts are agreed and they negotiated a price.
“They said they weren’t going to be in for Christmas so I could have the festive trade.
“I don’t know what is happening at the moment but I certainly haven’t heard they are pulling out.”
Nobody at JD Wetherspoon was prepared to comment.
A&M Bargains employs about nine staff, who all face redundancy.
Ms Whittingham said: “It is very sad and I have told them I don’t want to close.
“But I simply cannot drag people in here.
“I put two big adverts out over Christmas, but it was a waste of £500.
“It is very sad, not just for me, but for the town.”
Chairwoman of the Darwen Shop And Business Association Eileen Guy said she would be sorry to see Ms Whittingham go.
She said: “It’s not good. It is one less thing we have in Darwen.
“I just hope there won’t be more following suit as January and February are notoriously quiet months.
“It is bad news for Darwen and Amanda. She is not from here but she spends eight hours a day in the town and will be missed.”
Prices of all stock, except food, has been reduced at the store in a bid to clear it before closing down, including everything in the jewellery cabinet, which is half price.
Comments(25)
machinehead
says...
9:17pm Mon 9 Jan 12
Good luck Amanda, you had a great store there.
Your ferret stinks
says...
9:56pm Mon 9 Jan 12
Is that not applicable now, or does money speak louder than prayers as in blackburn?
Keep Darwen Green
says...
10:19pm Mon 9 Jan 12
goz
says...
10:21pm Mon 9 Jan 12
machinehead
says...
10:42pm Mon 9 Jan 12
Your ferret stinks wrote:Shhhhhhhh ! The owner was keeping that a secret till the contracts are exchanged
Can anyone enlighten us to the covenant placed on the building regarding it having been a place of worship and therefore not being allowed to trade on sundays?
Is that not applicable now, or does money speak louder than prayers as in blackburn?
happycyclist
says...
10:50pm Mon 9 Jan 12
ToffeeGuy
says...
11:28pm Mon 9 Jan 12
All the best for the future.
machinehead
says...
11:45pm Mon 9 Jan 12
ToffeeGuy wrote:time to stock up on the proper light bulbs too, you know the ones, the traditional ones that actually light the room up
Oh No! Where am I going to buy my tinned crab meat now?
All the best for the future.
Aslam Hussain
says...
11:46pm Mon 9 Jan 12
Could I suggest that Ms Whittingham negotiates a deal with the pub company that they employ some ,if not all, of Her employees in some category.
Dedicated staff should be rewarded accordingly so thats the least she should do.
sean_brfc
says...
11:47pm Mon 9 Jan 12
Aslam Hussain
says...
1:21am Tue 10 Jan 12
machinehead wrote:You have light bulbs ? be eco friendly and use candles
ToffeeGuy wrote: Oh No! Where am I going to buy my tinned crab meat now? All the best for the future.time to stock up on the proper light bulbs too, you know the ones, the traditional ones that actually light the room up
machinehead
says...
6:52am Tue 10 Jan 12
happycyclist wrote:I understand what your saying Happy, but I think the Millstone lost it's way a long time ago, when it had the monopoly in Darwen Town centre.
If A&M opens as a Wetherspoons, I'd bet on the Millstone shutting down -and of the two, the Millstone is the more prominent building that helps showcase the town. I hope councillors bear things like that in mind when making their decision.
Fighting, over-priced and very bad beer.
With investment, The Millstone would have seen off any competition.
What happened to the function room upstairs ?
I remember going to a wedding do there about 40 years ago, it should be competing with the likes of Marigolds for the people who have much more stamina than I.
happycyclist
says...
9:27am Tue 10 Jan 12
machinehead wrote:Ideally, I'd like to see Wetherspoons take over the Millstone!
happycyclist wrote:I understand what your saying Happy, but I think the Millstone lost it's way a long time ago, when it had the monopoly in Darwen Town centre.
If A&M opens as a Wetherspoons, I'd bet on the Millstone shutting down -and of the two, the Millstone is the more prominent building that helps showcase the town. I hope councillors bear things like that in mind when making their decision.
Fighting, over-priced and very bad beer.
With investment, The Millstone would have seen off any competition.
What happened to the function room upstairs ?
I remember going to a wedding do there about 40 years ago, it should be competing with the likes of Marigolds for the people who have much more stamina than I.
Aslam Hussain
says...
9:34am Tue 10 Jan 12
machinehead wrote:You're obviously an old codger , lol, can You tell Us some tales of how Darwen was in the Victorian era please , lol
happycyclist wrote: If A&M opens as a Wetherspoons, I'd bet on the Millstone shutting down -and of the two, the Millstone is the more prominent building that helps showcase the town. I hope councillors bear things like that in mind when making their decision.I understand what your saying Happy, but I think the Millstone lost it's way a long time ago, when it had the monopoly in Darwen Town centre. Fighting, over-priced and very bad beer. With investment, The Millstone would have seen off any competition. What happened to the function room upstairs ? I remember going to a wedding do there about 40 years ago, it should be competing with the likes of Marigolds for the people who have much more stamina than I.
machinehead
says...
9:42am Tue 10 Jan 12
happycyclist wrote:I'd considered that, but would hate to see Lodges rotting away and stripped of anything metal coloured
machinehead wrote:Ideally, I'd like to see Wetherspoons take over the Millstone!
happycyclist wrote:I understand what your saying Happy, but I think the Millstone lost it's way a long time ago, when it had the monopoly in Darwen Town centre.
If A&M opens as a Wetherspoons, I'd bet on the Millstone shutting down -and of the two, the Millstone is the more prominent building that helps showcase the town. I hope councillors bear things like that in mind when making their decision.
Fighting, over-priced and very bad beer.
With investment, The Millstone would have seen off any competition.
What happened to the function room upstairs ?
I remember going to a wedding do there about 40 years ago, it should be competing with the likes of Marigolds for the people who have much more stamina than I.
happycyclist
says...
9:58am Tue 10 Jan 12
machinehead wrote:I realise I'll probably get hammered for this, but might a growing Asian population in Darwen give it a mosque makeover? There's plenty of free parking nearby and if done up properly it could still be a real asset to the town.
happycyclist wrote:I'd considered that, but would hate to see Lodges rotting away and stripped of anything metal coloured
machinehead wrote:Ideally, I'd like to see Wetherspoons take over the Millstone!
happycyclist wrote:I understand what your saying Happy, but I think the Millstone lost it's way a long time ago, when it had the monopoly in Darwen Town centre.
If A&M opens as a Wetherspoons, I'd bet on the Millstone shutting down -and of the two, the Millstone is the more prominent building that helps showcase the town. I hope councillors bear things like that in mind when making their decision.
Fighting, over-priced and very bad beer.
With investment, The Millstone would have seen off any competition.
What happened to the function room upstairs ?
I remember going to a wedding do there about 40 years ago, it should be competing with the likes of Marigolds for the people who have much more stamina than I.
taxi_driver
says...
10:19am Tue 10 Jan 12
Dai Darwen
says...
12:09pm Tue 10 Jan 12
taxi_driver wrote:This would cure traffic flow and parking problems in Railway Road.
why not knock it down along with that scruffy taxi dive next door and build a bigger job centre then we can all see more people coming into town
machinehead
says...
12:25pm Tue 10 Jan 12
Dai Darwen wrote:It's probably protected as part of our victorian heritage, but i know what what you mean about the taxi place.. perhaps we could knock the taxi rank down, landscape it and put a 40ft stainless steel spitfire there for the kids to climb upon
taxi_driver wrote:This would cure traffic flow and parking problems in Railway Road.
why not knock it down along with that scruffy taxi dive next door and build a bigger job centre then we can all see more people coming into town
jacqui154
says...
3:26pm Tue 10 Jan 12
allan1957
says...
8:35pm Tue 10 Jan 12
Aslam Hussain
says...
10:18pm Tue 10 Jan 12
jacqui154 wrote:sorry cant agree with You , Ive never had a problem with them , they are always polite and friendly but then again so am I towards them . . .
' A good friendly shop' HAHAHA that's a laugh,the staff in there are so unhelpful and rude ,well the older ones are in my experience.Wont be missed.
district01
says...
11:47am Wed 11 Jan 12
SkinTag
says...
7:58pm Tue 17 Jan 12
Aslam Hussain wrote:Eco friendly yes, but as for fire safety in the home no - plus we have so many of the them in our house its like Dickens times!!!!!
machinehead wrote:You have light bulbs ? be eco friendly and use candlesToffeeGuy wrote: Oh No! Where am I going to buy my tinned crab meat now? All the best for the future.time to stock up on the proper light bulbs too, you know the ones, the traditional ones that actually light the room up
happycyclist says...
9:14pm Mon 9 Jan 12