‘Put something in there’ – Bulwell buyers speak out against empty building

Bulwell shoppers have shared their frustration at an empty town center unit, describing it as an “ugly distraction” from the other shops. The Main Street space has been vacant since late 2022 and was most recently occupied by a pledge called the Money Store.

At the time of the pawnshop’s closure, a sign from the owners reading “We are delighted to announce that we are opening a new pet shop in Bulwell Main Street, in the former The Money shop”, was placed outside the house . unit. However, a pet store never opened, and the building has remained vacant ever since.

Plans were also submitted in 2023 to turn the site into a betting shop, but this was rejected by Nottingham City Council due to concerns about the number of gambling venues in the city. Most recently, in early July 2024, a sign reading “nail bar coming soon” could be seen at the front of the vacant lot.

However, weeks later it has apparently been taken down and no further information is known about a nail bar.

Get the latest news straight to your phone, join us on WhatsApp

While the future of the building remains uncertain, it’s clear that Bulwell’s buyers want to see something done with the empty space. “It’s an ugly distraction to the other shops on the street,” said Colin Weaver, 72, of Bulwell, who believes the unit should be filled.

“This is Bulwell’s high street and it makes it look so shabby. There are some really nice shops and cafes around here and the spud van comes here every day.

“But these empty units drive people away, and then we wonder why no one comes to town anymore. There are always empty parts, but that has been the case for years.

“They should put something in there. I don’t care what it is — people always complain about pet stores or vape shops or coffee shops, but that’s better than wasting space.” His sentiments were not echoed by Ethan Brook, 30, who lives in nearby Bestwood but works in the town and believes filling the facility will not make a difference.

“We don’t need more dad stores,” he said. “I would say there are maybe three or four really good shops in Bulwell, but the rest are just there.

“It doesn’t make sense to replace empty buildings with shops that are going to close in a few months, because that’s what’s going to happen. So I don’t even care if they turn it into a nail bar or what… it won’t make a difference.”

Rosa, who originally lived in The Meadows before moving to Bulwell, adds that she thinks the latter “could be a nicer town” if empty buildings like the one on Main Street were filled. “We’ve never had any problems here and people smile on the street.

“But walking around, I think it could make everything nicer. I think it would improve people’s smiles if they did more buildings that aren’t being used. Things like that make communities better.”

Main Street, in Bulwell, is close to the town’s most popular stores such as Superdrug, B&M and Iceland. The empty unit was occupied by local Ford companies before it was foreclosed.