Colomberie is picking up – but free parking would help

Colomberie is picking up – but free parking would help

After 20 years, Mange Tout has closed its Colomberie shop and reopened with cycle business Big Maggy’s in the newest office building in the Jersey International Finance Centre.

Darren Amy, who bought the local food chain in 2016, said that the area was getting quieter with more firms leaving as it becomes more residential.

But other businesses and retailers say Colomberie is thriving – although it could do with a ‘bit of a face lift’ and free parking, in their view.

Emilie Cullen and her mother Ellis Cullen outside Ellis in Colomberie. Picture: JON GUEGAN. (23787181)

And town centre manager Daphne East said that she has seen a great improvement in the area in her four years in the role. She said that while she agreed that the area, like many others, would benefit from added infrastructure support, she disagreed with Mr Amy’s assessment.

‘When I first became town centre manager, people used to refer to Colomberie as the “Cinderella district” referring to how it had been forgotten about, but in recent years the area has really come alive.

‘The street used to have quite a lot of empty shops but the area has really evolved and now around 98 per cent of the shops are occupied, which is fantastic.

‘I can’t comment on Mr Amy’s business model but I think the area has come on incredibly well.’

Colomberie, which stretches from Snow Hill to Howard Davis Park, is home to a variety of smaller, independent retailers, some of which have opened in recent years.

Colomberie

Further changes to the area include a new block of 55 one- to three-bedroom apartments which are being developed by businessman Spencer Bourne.

Ellis Cullen, who has run the clothing boutique, Ellis Collections, for 26 years, said that while the area has lost some businesses which has led to a lower footfall over the years, she would not move to anywhere else.

‘I love the area and believe that just a few changes could make a huge difference. I think for the footfall to pick up there needs to be free parking and a few of the shop fronts could do with a bit of a facelift to elevate the area.

‘I do know that Mr Crowcroft [Constable of St Helier] really tries his best to help Colomberie but the area could do with some more plants, which should be subsidised by the parish.

‘But in saying all of that, the area has picked up in recent years with the opening of new shops, hairdressers and some new flats.’

Mrs Cullen said that Colomberie had been quite badly affected during the recession and was an area which needed added support if it was to continue to thrive.

Business partners David Stevenson and Jade Saunders, who set up the hairdresseing salon Dirty Blondes two years ago, said that business was going well, adding that they were fully booked until April.

Mr Stevenson said: ‘We both love it here and, thankfully, are doing well so far. And even though it’s right beside King Street the cost of rent is cheaper. We have noticed, however, that you see the majority of people passing through in the morning and after work, so it would be good to get more people to walk through during the day and during lunch as well.

‘The one downside of the area, which isn’t helping some businesses, is the lack of parking. And if you were thinking big, why not make the area a pedestrian precinct which continues from King Street?’

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