Liverpools Bold Street Faces Crisis Amid Shop Closures and New Eateries

Bold Street in Liverpool has many bars and restaurants. Shops there face challenges. Some long-standing shops have closed. Greenwoods, Rennies, and Mi Vida were once there. Waterstones and HMV used to be on Bold Street. Several stores recently closed.

Smiffys, a fancy dress shop, closed last November. The Works, a discount chain, also stopped trading. They thanked their Liverpool customers. Food and drink venues replaced some closed stores. Rennies Arts and Crafts is now a Franco Manca pizza place. Shops are becoming less common.

Ellis Brigham closed because of the change. They stated there were too many bars and cafes. The shop operated for over 60 years. Some remaining Bold Street shops feel the future is bleak. They think shopping destinations may disappear soon.

Bold Street is a popular Liverpool destination. Shops are decreasing while restaurants are increasing. This balance is changing the area. Shared Earth, a gift shop, has been there almost 20 years. Jen Harland has worked there since it opened. Harland said shops struggle with high rents. She feels retail faces many challenges.

Many chains and small shops have closed. She thinks a good mix of shops and restaurants is needed. This makes a healthy high street. Utility has been on the street for 25 years. Director Dick Mawdsley noticed the trading patterns are changing.

Mawdsley said more cafes and restaurants appeared. He said some retailers remain on the street. Utility is trading strongly. He said Bold Street gets busier at lunch. Locals and tourists still visit it. Bold Street will keep changing like Liverpool.

News from Nowhere has been there since 1974. Maria Ng said they are not concerned about the eateries. They own their building. Ng said the street is busy. They get business from the food places. She said it’s sad to see fewer shops. They are lucky to be busy.

Crust restaurant has been there for a decade. Owners Paolo and Donato Cillo hate shop closings. They know it is a tough choice. They think new businesses will fill the empty shops. All need strong plans due to the competition. Bold Street is full of innovation.

Boojum, a Mexican restaurant, opened recently. People lined up to visit it. Paul McCullagh wanted to open on Bold Street. McCullagh said Bold Street has a good mix. It has independent restaurants, coffee shops, and retailers. The street is energetic and popular. He said the community is welcoming. Opening week sales were strong. They are optimistic about their future.