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The Guernsey Retail Group has welcomed the recent boom in shops and businesses opening in the Commercial Arcade after an Express investigation found most units in the area are now full.
Earlier this week an independent book shop opened in the Arcade.
That is the latest in a line of six businesses to launch or relocate to the Arcade this year.
Maison Demain relocated earlier this year, while shoe shop Sole Mates relocated to the Arcade last year having previously been based in Mill Street. Iris and Dora took on larger premises next door to their past pop-up creative space.
Alt Seen, The Moochy Shop, Collector's Corner and Hub 25 have all welcomed this year, with The Writer's Block opening this week.
The Head of Business Development at the Guernsey Retail Group said this "wave of growth" is "incredibly inspiring to witness".
Korrine Le Page said it is further proof of the economy recovering from the covid pandemic too.
“We are thrilled by the wave of growth in the Commercial Arcade," she said. "It's incredibly inspiring to witness more outlets springing up, as visionary entrepreneurs establish new ventures and others relocate from elsewhere in St Peter Port.
"Coming out of the pandemic, Guernsey’s retail economy has shown remarkable resilience and now we are witnessing this success echoing across the Island, igniting a sense of community, creativity and possibility for all."
Pictured: The Guernsey Retail Group monitors economic activity within the sector. Data collated by the GRG shows that month on month each area within the Arcade is experiencing increased footfall.
Some of the units in the Arcade do still remain empty some months or years after the former businesses closed or relocated, but the Guernsey Retail Group is confident in the increased footfall the area is experiencing.
The data in the table above shows there has been increased footfall through the Arcade.
The GRG data suggests that on average, between 18,000 and 38,000 people are estimated to use the Arcade each week.
That could increase further if planning permission is granted for visitor accommodation to be created in the upper floors of the former Guernsey Photographics building.
A planning application was submitted in May and is still pending.
FOCUS: Breathing new life into the Arcade
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