St Mary’s Hospice is reaffirming its unwavering commitment to Barrow Town Centre as it prepares to relocate its Portland Walk shop, Re:Love.
While the move comes with some disappointment, it also brings fresh opportunities for the charity to continue its work in the community and being supported by the public.
Since its opening in September 2020, Re:Love has thrived in its current location, thanks to the incredible support of Barrow residents. However, with the landlord proposing a significant rent increase, St Mary’s Hospice has made the difficult decision to exercise a break clause in their contract, after the landlord indicated he planned to double the rent next year, with additional annual rises for the next five years.
The charity is now actively seeking a new town centre location, with the current shop remaining open while a new site is found.
Head of Retail, Caroline Welch, explains: “We’re fully committed to Barrow Town Centre, there is no doubt about that. People in the town have supported us keenly, both as customers and in terms of donating goods for us to sell.”
The decision to relocate was made after extensive negotiations with the landlord. The charity needed to act before the end of January to avoid being locked into a five-year lease with an unsustainable rent increase.
Caroline added: “We’re gutted to have to move out. Re:Love has been loved by our customers, is in a great location, is profitable, and has really worked for us. It’s a shame, but the level of rent increase is unaffordable. Our customers and donors would expect us to make sure we safeguard our income because every penny we raise goes towards paying for care. We just can’t take the risk of being locked into another five years when the rent is doubling.
“We tried to negotiate with the landlord, and we know it’s his prerogative to charge whatever rate he likes. He’s judged it and obviously thinks he can get another tenant who’ll pay the new, higher rent. That’s his choice. We’ve had a good relationship with him in the years we’ve been here, and we wish him every success.”
Caroline and the shop manager, Tracy, have already viewed several alternative sites, and hope to make an announcement soon on where Re:Love will be relocated.
“We’re trying to see it as an opportunity; our first choice would have been to stay where we are, but there are some great properties in the town centre, and I’m confident we’ll find something that works financially.
“Staff and volunteers at the shop are being kept updated, and it’s business as usual for the next few months. I’m hopeful that we’ll secure a site and move seamlessly from one to the other, with minimum disruption, but we do have our furniture warehouse in Barrow too, which is secured on a long-term basis and sits alongside our Compassionate Community Hub, on Duke Street.”