Despite a number of recent closures in the Eden Shopping Centre, bosses insist that exciting new retailers are on their way - but what do residents want to see arrive on their doorstep?
The High Wycombe shopping centre has already begun to make good on its promise, with confirmed new arrivals including Primark, The Optical Center and soft play facility Jungle Mania.
With the ever-looming trend towards online shopping, however, some residents have expressed concern that recent departures of independent businesses from Eden signal a "lack of investment" in the shopping centre.
While “decreased customer spending” appears to be one of the reasons behind the recent exodus, if Eden plays its cards right, new replacement shops could help to bring lost footfall – and purses – back.
To that end, we asked Bucks Free Press readers what kind of shops they would like to see arrive in the shopping centre in the near future.
The answers were wide-ranging, to say the least!
Many expressed their preference for locally-based businesses to boost tourism, with one person pitching “a picture gallery for local artists and sculptures” or a homemade ice cream shop.
Some called for a plus-size clothing shop like Jacamo or Yours Clothing.
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And others suggested an artisan bakery, an independent bookshop or a “proper English butcher”.
Several people called for the return of Zara, which closed its Wycombe branch at the end of January.
Others said they would like to see home and garden retailer The Range set up shop in Eden, with many saying they would object to any more coffee shops appearing in the complex.
Home Bargains, Flying Tiger, Uniqlo and Farmfoods were among other popular chains suggested by our readers.
Speaking to the Free Press at the beginning of the year, Shopping Centre Director Andrew Norton said he thought the next 12 months were “looking bright”.
Adding: "We're looking forward to releasing details of the new retailers and leisure operators coming to Eden this year.
"Our current vacancy rate is just 5.7 per cent, compared to a national shopping centre vacancy rate of just under 20 per cent which demonstrates that Eden is performing exceptionally well."
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