News

Living Oasis Edinburgh to close

23.05.11 | Lisa Campbell

An Edinburgh branch of Christian bookseller Living Oasis will close in June because of “ongoing losses” and no sign that trade will “substantially increase” in the shop.

A formal consultation process had begun with staff after the Nationwide Christian Trust, which runs the Living Oasis network, announced it would close the shop on 4th June 2011. Plans to combine the former Wesley Owen bookshop with a cafe and “meeting place” fell through after landlords objected to the plans.

Living Oasis said: “With no indications that trade will substantially increase, current budgets indicate ongoing losses. Whilst the Trustees have been content with this position in trying to re-establish a vibrant shop, there appears to be a lack of ongoing increasing support. Reluctantly, therefore, preparations need to be made to relocate stock to other outlets prior to the lease ending.”

In March Living Oasis announced five of its 19 bookshops were to shut—the Edinburgh shop will be the sixth closure.

The trust added it would “continue to explore ways in which Living Oasis can recommence to trade in Edinburgh and will continue its application for Scottish charitable status".

Living Oasis is now concentrating on developing the remainder of its stores to "phase two", which involves combining the bookshops with a café, a venue for community group meetings and holding late-night openings.

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By Phil Groom

Sad. That's all. :(

Mon, 23/05/2011 - 11:44
By Peter Slee

Tragic - I'd say. The Nationwide Christian Trust may have kept 9 Wesley Owen stores open a bit longer - but I wonder whether they really knew what they were taking on? Let's hope they can manage to keep the other 11 trading. All the best to them and their teams, and my sympathy to those now looking for new jobs in Edinburgh.

Mon, 30/05/2011 - 21:28
By Louise

I'm not surprised the Edinburgh shop has closed, it had nowhere near the stock that Wesley Owen had. It always looked half empty.

Tue, 07/06/2011 - 21:55

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