Bold Street traders are hopeful that their own unique brand of shopping experience, which embraces a personal ethos, will protect them from the impact of Liverpool One

Jun 11 2008 by Alex Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

THE opening of Liverpool One a fortnight ago presents opportunities and benefits to the rest of the city’s retailers.

It is expected it will signi-ficantly increase city centre footfall but, on the other hand, it could absorb much of the existing retail spend.

Some Bold Street traders are dismissive about the level of threat it poses.

News from Nowhere’s Mandy Vere said: “I think Liverpool One is a bit of a flash in the pan, but it’s a very particular shopping experience, spending hours walking around. There’s a move locally and nationally for small-scale shops, for personal attention. In our case, for really knowledge-able booksellers who can get people things they want.

“It’s a totally different shopping experience. I think Church Street will suffer a lot more than Bold Street from Liverpool One, but I do think Bold Street deserves the promotion that Liverpool One is getting.”

Andy Lea, who manages Maggie May’s Cafe, on Bold Street, said: “We have visit-ed the Liverpool One pro-ject. It’s a nice complex but it’s the same as any other city centre, but Bold Street is a bit different. We are differ-ent from the rest and the big concrete scheme, but it will take business from us.”

Dick Mawdsley, owner of Utility, agrees and says trade has already been affected.

“The first days of Liver-pool One were good for trade because Liverpool was mobbed, but the last week saw a noticeable decline i and some of the retailers have said the same. It’s too soon to say it’s because of Liverpool One.

“It’s a shiny, brand new shopping centre and people are going to go and have a look. I just hope it is not at our expense. It’s in Liver-pool’s interest that the city as a whole doesn’t decline because of Liverpool One.”