Some York businesses have all but disappeared in the last week – through no fault of their own.
Several traders on Goodramgate have found themselves hidden behind major roadworks now underway on the street.
And those worst affected are reporting that their takings have fallen sharply, at one of the peak retailing times of the year.
So how can we help? By supporting the affected businesses and spreading the word that they are open as normal.
And now, if you do just that, you could win a great prize.
The York BID has donated York Gift Cards worth £200 to support the Goodramgate traders.
That’s eight prizes of a £25 York Gift Card to give away. Each one will be given to a customer, chosen at random, who makes a paying visit to one of the businesses while the roadworks are ongoing.
The businesses involved are:
- Boyes
- Coffee Culture café
- Fancy Hank’s Bar & Kitchen
- The Knutti Store
- La Piazza Antica
- Lily Vine handbag boutique
- The Snickleways Inn
The York Gift Card was launched by the BID in 2019 and can be spent at more than 340 shops, restaurants, hotels, attractions and services in the city.
Operations manager of York BID Carl Alsop said: “We know that the roadworks are necessary to install the new anti-terror bollards in the street.
“But the scale of the work on Goodramgate has had a particularly big impact on those traders who have been hidden behind the hoardings.
“We wanted to do our bit to support them and thought this would be a good way to help. These are already brilliant places to shop, eat and drink in – and now you might come away with a £25 York Gift Card too!”
Anthony Lewis, co-owner of gift shop The Knutti Store, said: “I think it’s a wonderful idea. It will help keep our name out there, given that no one can see the shop physically. “This is what the community of York is all about.”