The King Street Comeback!
THE KING STREET COMEBACK
Will King Street once again be the crowning glory of Whitehaven?
by Stephen Murphy
King Street in Whitehaven is making a comeback, reviving its role as the “Crowning Glory” of the town. Once bustling and full of life, King Street declined due to the rise of national chains, economic downturns, and changing shopping habits.
However, the tide is turning as local people and small independent businesses breathe new life into the area.
The street now boasts an impressive 87% occupancy rate at its lower end, with only 4 of 31 units currently vacant.
Across King Street, new businesses such as Colours Cafe and Hub, Layo Cash & Carry, Sculpt Aesthetics, Ethereal Stormz, Artiste Hair, and Enjoy Cafe have opened, bringing fresh energy to the street.
Local business owners like Charley Maudling from Charles Menswear are optimistic about this resurgence, noting that the upgraded shopfronts and upcoming refurbishments, like that of Whittles-Now Levels, will and are transforming the street’s appearance.
With several properties still available for sale or rent, the street is ripe for investment. Charley said, “It’s great to see so many new businesses taking to Whitehaven and King St in particular.
Thankfully we’re busy up this end as are many; it’s nice to see the grant funding for upgrading the shopfronts being taken advantage of; overall, the look of King Street is improving month on month.
Also, we can’t wait until Whittles-Now Levels to begin the refurbishment; that will certainly look amazing and brighten up the whole area.
There are a few opportunities for those looking to move to the high street here in Whitehaven; for instance, that shop over there is £6K per year rent, and the shop next door to us is up for auction for £40,000 guide price.
So if you have the money, jump in while you can — there has never been a better time to invest.”
If you haven’t been up or down King Street lately, come on down and take a look; we think you’ll be surprised!
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