The owner of a “much-loved business” said she has had to shut up shop because of lack of footfall in Dundee and expensive business rates.
Time Lifestyle Boutique was a popular gift shop on Reform Street, but owner Nicola Donnelly said while the Waterfront was exciting, the rest of the city centre is being “neglected”.
The Tele told in November how she had even taken to mopping the street because it was so messy and she wanted to improve its poor image.
She said: “I am sad it has not worked out. I hope other business owners are better supported by the city and spared the horrible experience of closing the doors to a much-loved business.
“The cost of rents and especially rates need to be addressed. The current investment in Dundee is not actually bringing any more money to the pockets of Dundonians.
“Those that do have it to spend are spending elsewhere or would rather shop online. Dundee’s city centre is not seen as a place you want to spend a Saturday afternoon, with few public events and plenty of to-let signs over once-popular retailers.
“There are lots of exciting things happening at the Waterfront and the V&A is an amazing coup, but I worry the rest of the city centre is being neglected.”
City centre councillor Ken Lynn disagreed. He said: “I don’t think that’s the case at all. I think Dundee is vibrant.
“When the Waterfront is completed, I think people will come for the weekend and those visiting the V&A will probably want to visit the McManus and they would go down Reform Street to get there.
“There certainly are too many empty shops on Reform Street, but a positive is that Project Pie has set up on the street and that was a real coup for Dundee because it was the first in the UK to set up. In terms of rates, we now have more power to reduce them and I think we need to look into that.”