The Stone Traders Group want residents and visitors to know “We’re all back together” as they welcome the return of inside trade for many businesses in the town.
The Stone Traders Group is an organisation that represents many of the town centre shops and businesses and they have issued the following update in response to Stone and the rest of the UK moving to Step 3 on the Covid recovery roadmap:
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After what seems an eternity, from Monday 17th May our last remaining closed businesses will have the opportunity to trade inside and we couldn’t be happier.
Throughout lockdown Stone Town Centre has provided you with your essentials; from award winning butchers to your local fruit and veg shop right in the middle of Town. Last month non-essential retail (we hate that phrase!) was opened and saw the return of our beauty salons, hairdressers and retail shops together with bars & restaurants fortunate enough to have enough outdoor space to make the best of what was available.
Monday sees the remaining businesses re-open as we can sit indoors once again. This will remain challenging for many hospitality businesses in Stone as many are independents, they shall have to trade on reduced capacity, often needing additional staff to meet requirements, but thank goodness they will be given the opportunity to trade once again.
The stress and anxiety have been almost unbearable for some business owners and although we are finally all open together, some will find it tough but we know, due to the community spirit in Stone, you’ll be here to help us through.
Stone needs its amazing residents and visitors for our businesses to survive, and we’ve seen further casualties this year, but we also think Stone needs us too. What would your High Street look like if your favourite restaurant wasn’t there, or your ability to grab something for a night out with friends bought from a small clothes shop that will give you the service no large retailer can dream of. Hair, beauty, fashion, amazing pubs, bars and restaurants; we have (almost) everything you could possibly want right here in the safest environment you’ll get.
So, next week, next month and next year, please come and see us in Stone, please support as many businesses as you can, please come and enjoy a coffee with friends and stay for lunch and grab a gift for a friend while you’re here. We all love Stone, so please, show our businesses some love now we are all back open together.
For all those businesses in Stone that contribute by being a member of Stone Traders Group, thank you. Your small annual contribution allows us to run our social media site @StoneIsWhereTheHeartIs and fund our loyalty scheme, posters, and our new banners below. We think it says it all – Discover all that Stone has to offer – our businesses are OPEN and we look forward to seeing you!
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