Joplings closure: Let's have more in store for city
Joplings closing is another nail in the coffin for Sunderland, further spelling a ghost town for shoppers.
"Thank you for 206 years" is the stark and heartfelt tribute posted in the store's window.
That goodbye is filled with regret that no buyer stepped in and while there are plenty bemoaning its loss, the fact is too few supported the store. It was at the wrong end of town and people prefer shopping in The Bridges.
There is a tangible sadness seeing Sunderland's oldest department store wiped out. But it was out of its time and not appealing to today's disposable society.
People don't want to buy carpets and furnitute to last a lifetime. And much of its stock was pricey and not appealing to younger people.
Then it lost its ethos as more cheap goods were brought in. It looked like a tagareen store. It's core customers came from a more genteel generation who felt secure in buying quality goods that would last. But even their custom was lost towards the end. It wasn't the Joplings they knew and loved.
Times have changed and Joplings is sadly out of date. What happens
now?
The site, owned by property firm Sunderland Turton, is a prime one for redevelopment but not, I hope, as flats. We have enough of them already in the city centre. What we don't have is a quality hotel. We must be the only city in the country without a decent hotel. All we have is a Travelodge and the Marriott at Seaburn. Durham puts us to shame.
With Sunniside redeveloped, the emphasis has been on bringing up this quarter of the city. Sadly it lacks life. We need visionaries with big ideas to attract people and seize the potential this site offers – and not more run-of-the-mill bars. They won't bring anybody down from the main drinking drag at the other end of town. How about the ground floor of Joplings being turned into an indoor theme park, a magical and spellbinding experience for all ages?
How about a safari section where visitors could observe the mating habits of the greater-spotted chav in pyjamas?
There could be more quirkiness in shops to set our hearts racing with Eastern delights in dress, diadems and all manner of delights from foreign shores. This shopping mall would pull in the punters to spend, spend, spend.
Make no mistake there's money in this town. The trouble is, those with the lolly are taking their business elsewhere because Sunderland is a lost city. Time to see this site rise like a phoenix from the ashes as it did in 1956 after the massive blaze in 1954 razed it.
A swish shopper's paradise and eateries from around the world without a stotty cake in sight, could turn this into a hot spot of authentic tastes from all over the globe.
We want to be amazed. I remember how amazing it was to see the first escalator in this city in Jops. For once, let us go up in the world and be amazed at what could happen here. Put the heart back, not only into this site but this city, which is crying out for more and deserves so much more than a vacant Vaux site.
We don't want to see Joplings shuttered for long. We have enough eyesores. Let this be a showpiece redevelopment, a show-stopper that puts Sunderland on the map.
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Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
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