News / Big changes in the Lerwick shopping scene
LERWICK is to get a new butcher after Globe Butchers closed its doors earlier this year.
The town centre will also be lifted by High Level Music moving into new premises at the Market Cross.
However the increasingly popular Havly Café on Charlotte Street is to close its doors next week to allow its owners to devote more time to their new baby.
Scalloway Meat Company is opening premises at Lerwick’s Toll Clock shopping centre this summer after buying the shop formerly owned by Travelscope.
The move follows a rapid increase in trade at their Scalloway premises following the closure of Globe Butchers on Commercial Road in March.
Company spokesman and meat buyer John Alex Cromarty said they had been considering the move for some time, but had been pushed into it after having to take on extra staff to cope with the growing demand.
“For the last few months we have been looking at various different premises and finally decided on the Toll Clock shop. It needs to be fitted out, so it will be a few weeks before we are ready to go,” he said.
“We have already taken on extra staff and some of the staff from the Globe is coming to work for us, and there will probably be a few more needed.”
Brian Nicholson of High Level Music said moving his shop into the former Shetland Youth Information Services building would allow him to meet the growing demand for music tuition.
As well as the music shop selling instruments, CDs and sheet music, the four storey building will feature a café area designed for parents waiting for their children as they learn their instrument, along with practice rooms.
Nicholson said they were already teaching many youngsters guitar and fiddle, but had more than 50 on a waiting list for guitar alone. They also hope to add piano, accordion and mandolin to their classes.
“In this new building we’re on ground level, we have windows and a bit more space, though we weren’t thinking we would get quite so much space,” he said.
“I’m sure we’ll manage to utilise the whole building and we will be looking for a few more self employed tutors to come and use the space for themselves.”
Finally Havly owners Rhoda and Alistair MacPherson are closing their doors next Friday ahead of the arrival of their fourth child after four years building up the business.
Mrs MacPherson said they had been doing very well especially during the past year, and they had waited until all their staff looked like they would be able to find alternative work.
“It’s one of those bitter sweet things, we’re excited and looking forward to our new arrival, but sad to say goodbye to the Havly,” she said.
She added that they had been approached by several people who had shown an interest in the building and cafe, and they hoped the business would continue in new hands.
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