Town's last newsagent closes to become a Costa Coffee (From Daily Echo)
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Town's last newsagent closes to become a Costa Coffee
7:16am Friday 4th January 2013 in News
Not Just News in Totton
THE only surviving newsagent in the centre of Totton is set to close and become a Costa Coffee.
The couple who run Not Just News in Totton shopping precinct have been told that their lease is not being renewed by their landlords the National Australia Group.
It comes just weeks after the Daily Echo revealed that Costa Coffee is also planning to open a drive-thru facility in the town.
The application coincides with proposals to build a McDonald’s restaurant in Commercial Road and a KFC outlet at the bottom of Spicer’s Hill.
Today the chairman of the town council claimed that Totton’s character was changing for the worse.
Councillor Neville Penman said: “I’m disappointed that we’re losing another independent retailer – too many sites are being snapped up by multi-nationals.
“Costa Coffee are planning to open an outlet beside the Rushington roundabout and I can’t see why they want one in the precinct as well. We’ve got too many coffee shops in the town already. Totton stood still for many years. It’s changing now, but not in the right way.”
Not Just News – formerly Martins – has been selling newspapers and other products since the precinct opened in the 1960s.
A notice in the window says: “It is with much regret that we will be closing Not Just News on January 6. The landlords have decided not to renew our lease and intend to redevelop two units for a coffee operator.
“May we take this opportunity to thank all of our customers who have given us such wonderful support over the years.”
A Not Just News spokesman, who declined to be named, said it was the only remaining newsagent in that part of Totton. She added: “There were four when we took over 19 years ago and we’re the only ones left. The nearest other newsagents are in the High Street and Rumbridge Street.
“Our customers are very disappointed that we’re closing and we’re very disappointed that we’re having to give up.”
The National Australia Group said it wanted to create a larger corner unit by combining two of the existing premises. It claimed the scheme would improve the overall impact of the shopping centre “for the benefit of all”.
Totton councillor David Harrison said: “It’s sad to lose yet another small independent retailer but a lot of people will welcome Costa Coffee.”
The neighbouring unit is occupied by Clapham Eyecare. A spokesman stressed the business was staying open but might move “ten-15 yards” to new premises.
A Costa Coffee spokesman was unavailable for comment.
Comments(23)
Zeo
says...
9:25am Fri 4 Jan 13
Brusher Mills
says...
9:39am Fri 4 Jan 13
userds5050
says...
9:47am Fri 4 Jan 13
Brusher Mills wrote:Where are Costa going to get their papers from?
I think a Costa would be nice and add something to the area. Shame about the newsagents but I haven't actually used one in years. Buying and reading a newspaper is like reading yesterday's Internet news. Costa will have free wifi and papers to read should you want one.
S!monOn
says...
9:59am Fri 4 Jan 13
userds5050 wrote:A franchise like Costa will have suppliers that are happy to deliver the papers to them considering it would be a regular daily order.
Brusher Mills wrote:Where are Costa going to get their papers from?
I think a Costa would be nice and add something to the area. Shame about the newsagents but I haven't actually used one in years. Buying and reading a newspaper is like reading yesterday's Internet news. Costa will have free wifi and papers to read should you want one.
SotonLad
says...
10:22am Fri 4 Jan 13
userds5050 wrote:Asda, like everyone else. No need for a separate newsagents.
Brusher Mills wrote:Where are Costa going to get their papers from?
I think a Costa would be nice and add something to the area. Shame about the newsagents but I haven't actually used one in years. Buying and reading a newspaper is like reading yesterday's Internet news. Costa will have free wifi and papers to read should you want one.
Boatman
says...
11:32am Fri 4 Jan 13
Zeo wrote:People are going to make a special trip to Totton for a cup of coffee?
Costa will bring people to the area, I don't think Totton has a branded coffee shop, the one in Thornhill has attracted a lot of business and that's just on the main road. I think once a branded coffee shop makes it's way into Totton you could see other leading brands coming in.
one in a million
says...
11:56am Fri 4 Jan 13
southy
says...
12:54pm Fri 4 Jan 13
one in a million wrote:Thats the news agent I use when in Totton
Has Goldsmith's on Rumbridge street closed?
bazzeroz
says...
1:48pm Fri 4 Jan 13
.. NOT! Overpriced and over here.
Writers Cramp
says...
6:05pm Fri 4 Jan 13
richieroo
says...
7:01pm Fri 4 Jan 13
jackielxxx
says...
8:03pm Fri 4 Jan 13
geoff51
says...
8:08pm Fri 4 Jan 13
bazzeroz
says...
9:37pm Fri 4 Jan 13
geoff51 wrote:What like 'Costazski's Coffeez?'
It could be worse Totton could end up like Shirley full of Polish shops with unpronouncible names!
Pikey-Biker
says...
2:28am Sat 5 Jan 13
Brusher Mills
says...
7:28am Sat 5 Jan 13
****-Biker wrote:Who's this?
This wouldn't be part of a franchise run by Robin Arkle by any chance?
Brusher Mills
says...
7:44am Sat 5 Jan 13
Newspapers, can be got at supermarkets, convienence stores, petrol stations etc unfortunately fit newsagents others moved in on their turf. Have you noticed in the last 10-15 years newsagents have either vanished or been knocked into tesco expresses etc
Magazines can also be bought in the other places mentioned.
I believe the sale of tobacco is at an all time low, but again can be bought at the other mentioned places. As can sweets and confectionary.
There is probably two main factors in the downfall of newsagents, the Internet being one. Newspapers are now full of yesterday's news. The other being supermarkets, they have been allowed to take over and we all like to goto one place to get it all. Newsagents can be added to the same group supermarkets have damaged, butchers, bakers, off licences and pubs. I'm surprised they have not moved into selling second hand rubbish for charity yet.
Pikey-Biker
says...
2:02pm Sat 5 Jan 13
Brusher Mills wrote:He was involved in a story run by the echo earlier this year
****-Biker wrote: This wouldn't be part of a franchise run by Robin Arkle by any chance?Who's this?
http://www.dailyecho
.co.uk/news/district
/southampton/9715480
.Coffee_wars_break_o
ut_over_claims_of___
_illegal_sampling___
_by_tiny_cafe/
photosolution@hotmail.com
says...
5:33pm Sat 5 Jan 13
I suggest to people who are looking for a decent coffee, latte , cappuccino and more... and nice settings pay a visit to Arrosto. I am sure they will be impressed with whole experience.
Brusher Mills
says...
7:34pm Sat 5 Jan 13
****-Biker wrote:Oh yes I remember that. Cheers
Brusher Mills wrote:He was involved in a story run by the echo earlier this year
****-Biker wrote: This wouldn't be part of a franchise run by Robin Arkle by any chance?Who's this?
http://www.dailyecho
.co.uk/news/district
/southampton/9715480
.Coffee_wars_break_o
ut_over_claims_of___
_illegal_sampling___
_by_tiny_cafe/
Brusher Mills
says...
7:38pm Sat 5 Jan 13
userds5050
says...
10:13am Sun 6 Jan 13
Writers Cramp wrote:Costa is owned by Whitbread and most of their coffee shops are small francises. It's like the morons kicking off at Starbucks. It's not the folks running the shops avoiding paying the tax. Nice plug by Arrosto mind :)
Great news for the cosmopolitan shopping attraction of Totton. 17 eat/drink places, 7 estate agents, handfuls of charity shops, JUST in the town centre, and yet more planning applications seeing even more eateries. Daft planners, greedy landlords and even a councillor who champions local traders against a local superstore, now, judging by comments likely to frequent an international coffee chain. Welcome to Totton, capital of the small minded decision makers squeezing the lifeblood further out of the town. Footnote: There are 18 shops in that precinct, 5 of which remain empty ! What are the Council doing to sell Totton and attract new businesses ?
Brusher Mills says...
9:14am Fri 4 Jan 13