Retailers upbeat about –St George’s future

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The historic town of St George’s is building towards a brighter future, according to the owners and operators of some of the town’s new businesses.

Darren Hodsoll and Shelly Carswell of GoJo’s Cafe, on King’s Square, said the owners had planned on shutting down for three months over the slow season.

However Mr Hodsoll and Ms Carswell convinced them to let them keep the place open, with the pair producing all of the food themselves.

Taking a short break from making codfish balls, Mr Hodsoll said that he had been working in construction but given the slowdown in the industry he wanted to turn his attention to his love of cooking.

“Everything is a challenge but if I can’t do construction work right now, I felt I might as well do something I love to do,” he said.

“We just put our minds together, and hopefully it will be a success. Hopefully we will get a cruise ship coming in, and the ferries start soon, so I believe we will make it.”

Ms Carswell, who also operates Samaritan’s Cottage Bed and Breakfast, said that the town’s woes are largely seasonal.

“It’s slow right now, but I have had two successful years at the bed and breakfast,” she said. “Last year I was full from April to September.”

Asked what she would like to see improved in the town, she said she would like to see more support from the local community.

“If everyone could get together and try to support each other. Come to St George’s and buy what you can here before trying elsewhere.”

Angel Burgess, who owns and operates A2Z Shoes and Accessories, expressed a similar view.

“I think part of the problem is the mindset that St George’s is so far away, but when we go away we don’t have any problem driving for an hour to get to a mall,” she said.

“People have asked why I’m not in town, but I don’t want to be in town. I’m from St David’s and when I was young you never went to town. You got what you needed in St George’s. It would be nice to get that back.”

She said that a new hotel or a visiting cruise ship could provide a huge boost for the community, even if her business itself largely caters to locals.

“It’s not going to help my business directly because it’s not really a tourist shop, but it would be good for St George’s to get a cruise ship,” she said. “A hotel would be wonderful, but with everything that’s gone on with that I guess we have to see what is in the future.”

Gary Macphersons from Triton Tattoo said that in order for the town to thrive, they must find a way to bring tourists to the east end.

He said that when the Norwegian Tall Ship recently visited the town, he received a boost in business, but as soon as the ship went the town became quiet again.

Kamilah Cannonier from Sweet Saaks Bakery meanwhile said: “I think we need to do more to get all be businesses together and have a defined plan where we can all work together to get the ball really rolling.”

Ms Cannonier said that she is faring better than other businesses in the town largely because she is catering to locals rather than visitors.

Keita Simons at Last Night Boutique said the same.

“Business has actually been pretty good here. We have a lot of people in the community who come here, but we don’t get any tourists in really unless they lose their luggage and need to buy new underwear,” she said.

She said that some property owners have made the town’s recovery more difficult by not keeping the various buildings in the town attractive, but now more people appear to be investing in the town.

Even with the challenges, she remained optimistic about the area’s future.

“I think we are on the right track. Hopefully with the new mayor and the new MP’s in the area, we will have more cohesion than we have in the past.

“I will work with anybody. If it will better St George’s, I’m down for it.”

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