Like many small towns we will be bidding a sad farewell to Woollies after Christmas, leaving a big hole on Fore Street. No rumours at all so far about who might take over the site. No doubt the perennial rumours about Gordon Ramsay / Rick Stein / MacDonalds moving into St Ives will resurface in the New Year.

This was one of the last places in town where you could buy reasonably priced practical items such as saucepans, bed linen and stationery. Most here reckon the main benefiary will be Colin at Colenso's on Gabriel Street. He's a brilliant salesman and claims that "if we haven't got it you don't need it". Its the sort of place where you go in intending to buy a ball of string and emerge with full set of screwdrivers, a foot pump and a tin of paint. Great stuff though and one of the last outposts in St Ives selling useful items.

Our walk along Fore Street on Wednesday evening was quite scary - getting on for half the shops have sales on with heavy discounts - and this is the week before Christmas !

Thanks to our Scottish friend Mr Broon (sorry .. I meant the world economy .. nothing to do with him .. its those American banks) it looks like being a tough few months ahead for trade.

There are a few bright spots though and (unashamed plug - I've just done their website) check out Chocolat! on The Digey. Great little specialist chocolate shop - you can buy Cornish chocolate and loads of other interesting stuff - in the shop itself or online:
http://www.chocolatstives.co.uk/

More updates on the St Ives shopping situation soon.

On the possitive side, you now have M&S and Next just out of town which is kind of handy!! Gutted about Wollies though.  My husband told me the other night that he used to dred us walking past as I had a compulsion to go in whether we needed to or not!  RIP Woolworths x