🚫 “Not Another Vape Shop”: Locals React as Beloved Braintree Store Closes After 34 Years
🚫 “Not Another Vape Shop”: Locals React as Beloved Braintree Store Closes After 34 Years
After more than three decades at the heart of the community, one of Braintree’s longest-standing department stores has closed its doors for the final time.
The family-run shop, once a cornerstone of the High Street - served generations of local shoppers. From school uniforms and Christmas gifts to birthday cards and homewares, it was a place where everyone in town had bought something at least once. But after 34 years of trading, the lights have gone out for good - another loss in a High Street that’s changing faster than ever before.
🛍️ “We’re Losing the Shops We Actually Need”
Regular customers describe the closure as more than just the end of a business - it’s the end of era.
When asked what locals would like to see replace the now-empty Quadrant store, one resident simply replied:
“Not another vape shop.”
It’s a comment that’s resonated widely - capturing how many people feel about the steady decline of traditional shops. Over the past few years, Braintree’s High Street has seen a growing number of closures - from fashion outlets and gift shops to cafés and banks. Rising rents, shrinking footfall, and the dominance of online shopping have all taken their toll.
💻 The Online Shift That Changed Everything
While the pandemic accelerated the move to online retail, many local shopkeepers say it simply highlighted a trend that had been brewing for years.
More people are buying from their sofas, and fewer are browsing local stores. Add in delivery convenience and next-day shipping, and traditional High Street retailers are struggling to compete — especially independents with limited budgets.
But with fewer people walking through town, local businesses suffer a ripple effect: cafés, salons, and market traders lose custom too.
“It’s not just about shopping,” one café owner said. “It’s about community. You can’t bump into your neighbour on Amazon.”
🧱 The Cost of an Empty Shopfront
Each closure leaves a visible gap - another empty window, another “To Let” sign. What used to be a bustling centre of social life now risks feeling hollow.
The loss of independent retailers also affects young people looking for weekend jobs, local suppliers, and even tourism. Visitors used to wander Braintree for its mix of small-town charm and unique finds. Now, many head straight to Freeport or shop online instead.
The district council says it’s working to attract new businesses and restore balance to the High Street. But locals argue that unless footfall improves, no one will take the risk.
💬 Final Thoughts
This isn’t just about one store closing, it’s about what kind of town we want Braintree to be.
Do we want a High Street filled with vape shops, or one that supports independent traders and community spaces? Because the truth is, we vote with our wallets every single day.
🗣️ What do you think? Have we given up on our High Street too easily or is this just the way shopping is now?👇 Share your memories, your opinions, or the last thing you bought from this store.
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Primark would be good?
Sad it’s come to this. Highstreet full of illegal vape shops, selling vapes to minors