Canton Shopping

I remember when shopping in Canton was interesting but today it can only be called boring and repetitive. If you are into bookies, charity shops, and fast food outlets, you would love it but it leaves little room for anything else. Shop occupancy is high along the main shopping part of Cowbridge Road. However, when a shop closes the likelihood is one of above mentioned would rise from the ashes.

It can be soul-destroying wandering through some of the suburban shopping areas of Cardiff they are rundown and tatty. There was a time they were extremely important to our local communities and they were flourishing, but unfortunately, across the city some of them have been allowed to die a slow death. What we are left with are the for mentioned bookies etc. and franchise operations.

The Enemy??

It has not helped with the likes of Tesco and other supermarkets opening up as competition in these areas. For example, in Tesco Metro Canton, you can do your whole shop and more and if they don’t have say, a microwave, you can order it online for collection the next day most times. There is an electrical shop next-door to Tesco’s called Radiocraft so why not buy it there? Because it is likely to be cheaper in Tesco. Then you have their larger stores that sell everything under the sun with large free car parking, you have to pay to park in Canton.

When I was young many moons ago, most of our shopping was done locally with a Saturday trip into the town centre and we rarely used a supermarket. Back then, they mainly sold food and they were few in number compared to today.

We try to shop has much as possible outside superstores the likes of Tesco’s and use other shops but these days it is hard. We use our local butchers, veg shops, and other because if people don’t use them then they have no right to complain if they close. They may be a bit more expensive than the big stores but we need small independent shops.

I had a conversation recently asking what kind of shops I like to see in Canton. Well more independent shops personally and less of what we have now. I would love to see a bookshop. Shopping on the internet is easy and cheap and most times with free delivery but still, there is nothing better than browsing around a bookshop. There are other shops I would like to see but with high rents, they are unlikely but they would make for a more vibrant shopping experience. I think it will be a struggle to keep what little there is now the future is on a tipping balance not just for Canton but other areas around Cardiff.