A popular clothing and fashion store which has virtually become a Bermuda institution over the past two decades has been asked to vacate its current premises after 21 years.

Makin' Waves, which is based in Front Street, has been looking for a new home in the same street since landlord Freisenbruch-Meyer was granted permission to change the space from retail use to insurance. The retailer, which also has an outlet in Dockyard, is required to move by April 2011, but has struggled to find a suitable new premises so far.

Doug Patterson, co-owner of Makin' Waves, said Freisenbruch-Meyer gave him notice two years ago that it wanted to take over the ground floor of the building in order to expand its business, but he did not expect the Planning Department to approve the insurer's application.

However, on appeal, Planning gave Freisenbruch-Meyer the thumbs up to go ahead with the development and Makin' Waves had to start making plans to relocate its business within less than 12 months.

The search to locate new retail space, meanwhile, has not been all plain sailing and is still ongoing, according to Mr. Patterson.

"It is worrying," he admitted. "But at the same time we do have some opportunities that I am hopeful may pan out.

"There are a number of properties available, but they don't fit what we are looking for.

"So at the moment it is a wait and see game."

Mr. Patterson, who runs the store with fellow owner Stuart Joblin, said it was key for his business to remain in Front Street to attract the tourist trade as well as maintaining its loyal local following.

He added that it was important for the new store to have between 2,500 and 3,000 square feet of space to merchandise its products effectively and to be situated on the ground floor.

Mr. Patterson said that despite the economic downturn, landlords and building owners in Front Street were keeping their rents at the same levels as pre-recession, making it even harder to find somewhere affordable.

"I have not seen an adjustment in rents for retail space in proportion to the current economic conditions," he said. "And I think at some point probably the landlords have purchased the buildings with a particular rent in mind which at the time was quite reasonable in order to pay of the cost of acquiring the property.

"But now you are not seeing a reasonable reduction in rents.

"For example, the new Washington Mall development is a beautiful property, but the rents are, in my mind, quite expensive."

Makin' Waves has built its reputation around its Front Street presence, but Mr. Patterson views a new move as a chance to start afresh and clean out its closet.

"We still have almost a year and the search carries on and we are hopeful that something will come up in that time," he said.

It has been a balancing act for the business over the past year, with its Dockyard store opening in April 2009 to coincide with the launch of the Dockyard Pier and the subsequent arrival of the cruise ships, while shutting its St. George's store when the cruise ships pulled out, said Mr. Patterson.

"We have been able to maintain an equilibrium and a decent business," he said.

"We had some concerns about what would happen when the cruise ships left Hamilton two years ago, but we have been surprised that we didn't suffer as the result of a drop in business."

Overall, Mr. Patterson has seen a fluctuation in trade due to the economic crisis, but he added that the business has made provisions by looking more closely at operations, streamlining and being more cost effective in a bid to come out stronger in the recovery.

"I have been pleasantly surprised that we have managed to weather the current economic situation fairly well," he said.

"We have been in business for 21 years and hopefully we will be here for at least another 21."

Anyone who has any retail space property available for rent can contact info@makinwaves.bm