Abandoned Stores

[rdobbie]

I stayed at Travelodge "Kings Lynn Long Sutton" at the weekend. The site is one which has a Little Chef, which appeared to close last year sometime. Unlike every other example I've seen, this one hasn't been boarded up, debranded or anything! There was still banners up with offers in the current Little Chef style. The only sign from the A17 that this Little Chef is no more is the totem, which has had its Little Chef module removed (that said, another identical totem around the corner continues to bear the image of Charlie).

It looks to me as though the Area Manager just turned up, marched the staff off site and that was that.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39611466@N ... 567221090/

The Wifi was active, although I wasn't able to access the internet on it (router on, connection cut I presume).

Interesting post and pics, thanks. The KFC in Congleton recently closed down (bucking the trend of the company's national expansion plan) but remained fully branded for 6 weeks or so, even with all the signage still illuminating every night and the PVC banner on the perimiter fence advertising the latest burger. I assume that the debranding and boarding-up of such premises is outsourced to specialist companies and that there's sometimes a waiting list involved. Like you say, it seems as though the manager's role is confined to locking the door and walking away.

A random bit of trivia about Little Chefs: their toilets were always located at the other end of the building to the main door (usually diagonally opposite), thus creating a "walk of shame" to discourage the motorist who wanted to relieve himself without making a purchase. However, an ex of mine who used to work for LC told me there was always a hardcore element who did the splash and dash on a regular basis, and it was company policy never to challenge anyone about it (even repeat offenders).

On another note, it's nice to see the original American Travelodge logo still evident in your pics.

And another thing, this pic is a great example of the blight that I call "sticker sprawl", a really messy sight when you approach the door, and an example of how Little Chef just drifted into the abyss over a period of time, with no care about its ambiance.

[cwathen]

Oh dear. Only 3 stars for Scores On The Doors?

I noticed that. The first place I've seen which isn't at least a 4 star.

[Alexia]

Kebab shop I passed the other day was boasting their 2 stars. Surely nowhere has a 0 or 1 sticker??

That's not bad for a kebab shop. Although, it has to be said, considering the town/city itself is a shithole, Newport's midnight heart-attack snack establishments are always spotless, so we do something right at least. AND they all do a mean 12inch pizza for under a fiver with free garlic bread.

[WillPS]

I stayed at Travelodge "Kings Lynn Long Sutton" at the weekend. The site is one which has a Little Chef, which appeared to close last year sometime. Unlike every other example I've seen, this one hasn't been boarded up, debranded or anything! There was still banners up with offers in the current Little Chef style. The only sign from the A17 that this Little Chef is no more is the totem, which has had its Little Chef module removed (that said, another identical totem around the corner continues to bear the image of Charlie).

It looks to me as though the Area Manager just turned up, marched the staff off site and that was that.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39611466@N ... 567221090/

The Wifi was active, although I wasn't able to access the internet on it (router on, connection cut I presume).

Interesting post and pics, thanks. The KFC in Congleton recently closed down (bucking the trend of the company's national expansion plan) but remained fully branded for 6 weeks or so, even with all the signage still illuminating every night and the PVC banner on the perimiter fence advertising the latest burger. I assume that the debranding and boarding-up of such premises is outsourced to specialist companies and that there's sometimes a waiting list involved. Like you say, it seems as though the manager's role is confined to locking the door and walking away.

A random bit of trivia about Little Chefs: their toilets were always located at the other end of the building to the main door (usually diagonally opposite), thus creating a "walk of shame" to discourage the motorist who wanted to relieve himself without making a purchase. However, an ex of mine who used to work for LC told me there was always a hardcore element who did the splash and dash on a regular basis, and it was company policy never to challenge anyone about it (even repeat offenders).

On another note, it's nice to see the original American Travelodge logo still evident in your pics.

And another thing, this pic is a great example of the blight that I call "sticker sprawl", a really messy sight when you approach the door, and an example of how Little Chef just drifted into the abyss over a period of time, with no care about its ambiance.

I dined at the York LC (which was one of the 2 which were done in a style similar but not identical to the Popham branch which Heston covered) and noticed they had an A4 piece of paper with a shatliffed version of the current logo advising that toilets were for "retail and restaurant" customers only. It struck me from seeing that they've learnt nothing - surely they want people to think they can stop if needs be, that's what a convenience is all about! The actual food was great though, and they've fitted out the former BK bit as a coffee area with loads of pictures and items of memorabilia. The issue is, people don't want a restaurant on the roadside anymore; it isn't convenient.

The value of Little Chef lies with the brand; I can see it working as a chain of conventional retro restaurants.

I totally agree on the 'sticker sprawl' - I think the scores on the doors are a legal requirement, as is the No Smoking sign, the rest is superfluous. The whole entrance experience is shite - retail racking and a takeaway drinks fridge shoe-horned in; plus that god awful canopy which must date from 80s.

[revendication]

I noticed earlier a long-empty Little Chef on the southbound A34 at Weston-on-the-Green in Oxfordshire is being re-opened as an 'Eat and Go' - signage and branding looked very corporate, is this a one-off or a chain I've not heard of?

[WillPS]

I noticed earlier a long-empty Little Chef on the southbound A34 at Weston-on-the-Green in Oxfordshire is being re-opened as an 'Eat and Go' - signage and branding looked very corporate, is this a one-off or a chain I've not heard of?

I'd suggest a one off or very very small chain; can't find anything on Google about it.

If there is a full Little Chef fit out lays behind the boards at all these boarded up outlets, then I guess one plus point is that a restaurant could open with the existing fit out; personally I think it would have to be almost all replaced pretty quickly though.

Part of the issue with Little Chef is that they let their core estate stagnate for a period of around 10-15 years, with no active refurbishment programme - this amplified by the fact that over the same period they attempted to step up their prices (and supposedly quality, although I'm not convinced that came until later). Anybody taking these stores on as one-off ventures needs to distance themselves from the corporate neglect scattered across Little Chef's past; there's a limited amount that can be done to the buildings' exterior, so that makes the interior fit out triply important.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shandiness/8485380488/ - here's an example of a Little Chef that's been reopened by former employees, if Wellworths and Faith are anything to go by then they don't stand much of a chance. It's great that they've made some effort to improve the interior, but I think they need to reupholster the furniture, or better still, chuck it out and get something better.

[WillPS]

£25k for Dundee is nonsense. High level of passing traffic does not equal high level of passing trade.

If you are on the A90 northbound you've already passed a much nicer looking Beefeater 400 yards down the road (worth noting that the A90 as it passes through Dundee has 6 roundabouts so it is very easy to turn around).

If you are coming northbound you have passed a retail park with a Burger King, Pizza Hut and Tesco Extra, then a leisure park with a McDonalds and KFC.

Also a giant Asda including cafe is being built right next door to it.

Nonsense. I expect MJ's not to last long.

Good prediction: https://www.flickr.com/photos/shandines ... otostream/

[Whataday]

Kebab shop I passed the other day was boasting their 2 stars. Surely nowhere has a 0 or 1 sticker??

That's not bad for a kebab shop. Although, it has to be said, considering the town/city itself is a shithole, Newport's midnight heart-attack snack establishments are always spotless, so we do something right at least. AND they all do a mean 12inch pizza for under a fiver with free garlic bread.

In Wales at least, it is now compulsory to display the ratings.

[Alexia]

Kebab shop I passed the other day was boasting their 2 stars. Surely nowhere has a 0 or 1 sticker??

That's not bad for a kebab shop. Although, it has to be said, considering the town/city itself is a shithole, Newport's midnight heart-attack snack establishments are always spotless, so we do something right at least. AND they all do a mean 12inch pizza for under a fiver with free garlic bread.

In Wales at least, it is now compulsory to display the ratings.

Indeed.

[WillPS]

None of this was the case at the time the quoted post was authored: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-25119724

[woah]

A chance to have a look around the old Co-op Castle House department store in Sheffield which closed in early 2008, as well as the art deco spiral staircase that has been boarded up since the place closed because it's listed. Oh, and apparently there's some art or something too....

https://www.facebook.com/SheffieldBazaar

And some recent pictures of the place on Flickr too, including a rare pic of the horrid old cafe upstairs, minus all the nasty plastic seating, miserable staff and and depressing OAP canteen food.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/craigskin ... 7164819875

And some more showing some of the art exhibition in the building:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/36073835@N06/