"Jessops is dead"
Is would be 'convenient' to think this was just because Shandwick Place was shut because of the tram!
Clearly things are changing in many ways.
Some big companies have had their heads in the sand. Morrisons is only just getting around to on-line shopping/home deliveries.
If shops are anything to go by people only want coffee and mobile 'phones!
"Passing motor trade" tends to pass (except when it stops on yellow lines to buy a paper!)
'Passing trade'/footfall is more about 'attracting' people who are walking by because they are going to other shops.
If shops close (because of out of town or the Internet or just because they don't sell things or provide services people want) there are fewer reasons to be potential passing trade.
Edinburgh is generally doing better than many traditional 'town centres'.
More affluent, more tourists, good bus services, more willingness to walk(?) - certainly more people cycling (and not enough bike parking).
CEC hopes the tram will help - but is hedging its bets by keeping car parking on George Street.
To some extent it's about 'the market' - which isn't as "efficient" as some people think.
Shop rents don't seem go down to reflect the lack of apparent demand in some places.
This is partly because the value is on a balance sheet somewhere (perhaps a pension fund) and it's hard to admit it's worth less.
Maybe it will all come right in the end (or is a house of cards).
Budget Day.
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