‘Small shops need help or they will die’

  • Grouville shop Verona Stores to close after more than 60 years
  • Owner blames competition from new Co-op supermarket
  • Maria Eusebio has warned that more must be done to protect local businesses
  • Should supermarkets be allowed to open near small stores? Take our poll below

THE owner of a shop that has been at the heart of the Grouville community for 60 years says it may be forced to close after suffering a drop in profits since the arrival of a Co-op store.

Maria Eusebio, the owner of Verona Stores in Grande Route des Sablons, says she is likely to close down the shop at the end of her lease because of the competition from the supermarket at the former de La Mare nursery.

According to Mrs Eusebio, who came to the Island from Portugal 27 years ago, the shop’s takings have dropped by a fifth since the Co-op opened in February. ‘It is a massive drop for a small business which is already struggling a bit,’ she said. ‘The worst days by far are when there is double-dividend on at the Co-op – we see very few people then.

Since the Co-op opened a store in Grouville, Maria Eusebio claims that her business has suffered

‘We have three years left on our lease and we want to see it through, but the way things are going, that might not be possible. If we manage to see it through, I don’t think we will be able to go on after that.’

Mrs Eusebio, who has run the store with husband David for the past eight years, says that more needs to be done to protect local businesses.

‘Verona has been part of the parish community for 60 years and it would be a real shame if it has to close,’ she added. ‘Something needs to be done to stop the big businesses forcing the small ones to close down.

‘It’s more of a problem for businesses in the country parishes. We really need some sort of help from the States to protect us.’

Mark Cox, the chief operating officer of the Channel Islands Co-operative Society, said: ‘First and foremost, it’s a shame to see a community store struggling. We would welcome a dialogue with Verona and a chance to speak about the situation.

‘Before the Co-op store was opened, we had a lot of feedback from society members saying that we should consider opening a store in the east of the Island. We heard that shoppers were going elsewhere because they couldn’t fulfil their needs, and as a result of the new store it seems more people are shopping in Grouville.’

Edyta Buard at Le Shop in Trinity. She has vowed to continue her battle for compensation

A TRINITY shopkeeper warned last month that her store could close within days after suffering thousands of pounds in lost income because of major roadworks near her premises.

Edyta Buard, the owner of Le Shop in Rue ès Picots, said that since resurfacing works began in early February and diversions were put in place, profits at the shop had plummeted by 60 per cent and she had been forced to lay off two members of staff.

She said at the time that it was ‘touch and go’ whether the shop would remain open.

And after being told by Transport Minister Eddie Noel that Le Shop would not be receiving compensation, Mrs Buard vowed to fight for costs and take her claim to European courts if necessary.

‘Before the roadworks started we had between 120 and 150 people coming in every day. Now we have maybe 50 or 60. People do not want to drive for 20 minutes to get a paper or a loaf of bread. We are a convenience store, but we have had the convenience taken away from us,’ she said.

However, the businesswoman, who opened the shop and post office with husband Aurelien in November 2013, said that her main complaint was about Transport and Technical Services’ apparent communication failures.

‘My problem is not that the roadworks have to be done, because undoubtedly they have to be – it’s the lack of information,’ she said.

‘We were told that the worst time would be at the end of January and beginning of February and we made allowances for that, but then at the last minute they decided to start at the other end instead.’

‘I want compensation. We are prepared to fight our corner. If the minister says nothing, we are going to go to the Chief Minister and further. I will go to Brussels if I have to.’

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