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ALL CHANGE AT NO. 8

Submitted by Editor on

HARD TIMES IN AUSTERITY EDINBURGH 

G-Star Raw at 8 Multrees Walk is no more.

The luxury men’s and women’s denim retail franchise has left, clenching its chic yet casually sculpted buttocks behind it.

This time last year, Drapers magazine blamed high rents for a string of similar closures in Gateshead, Derby, Cardiff, Leicester, London and Bristol. Profit margins, like the jeans, are tight.

Agents Cushman & Wakefield say the 2,930 sq.ft property on Multrees Walk has a rent of £195,000 per annum, and a rateable value of £109,500. 

Silent and emission-free

In place of G-Star Raw will probably arrive another brand likely to appeal to the tastes and pockets of Spurtle readers.

Tesla – manufacturers of whispering, ‘premium-standard’, electric performance cars – have applied for permission to change the use of No. 8 from Class 1 retail to a ‘”Sui Generis” (Display and / or sale of motor vehicles) with proposed  fit-out of an existing retail unit as a "Tesla Retail Concept” store on ground and first floors’ (Ref. 15/03997/FUL).

'By positioning the store in such a premium location,' purrs the company’s design statement, 'Tesla aims to create a one of kind international destination that effectively communicates the creativity, innovation, sustainability and environmentally friendly nature of the brand. This will be done via innovative product displays with interactive features, onsite product experts and test drives.'

Sounds like fun for all the family.

Cars will not be delivered or routinely driven away from this location.

We can’t pretend to understand the technology, but it may be that the Autopilot-activated Model S will  – using its forward-looking camera, radar, 360º sonar sensors and real-time traffic updates –handle all transactions and flirt with the customers without the need for human staff intervention.

A new example of this modern marvel will set you back about £55,000. Or you could buy a really smart bike.

[Images: Wikipedia, Creative Commons.]

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 Roberta Buchan I can tell the reporter enjoyed describing in detail the specs for the high powered auto! Glad they won't be routinely driven in and out if the pedestrian walk. What I'd like the precinct managers to do is return the wonderful reflective metallic panel to its place facing the entry from St. Andrews square to the walk. But that would entail dispensing with a retail outlet so it's not going to happen.

@theSpurtle would Tesla REALLY want to go in there right next to St J Q works, starting in less than 6 months time, even rent-free?

 Broughton Spurtle ‏@theSpurtle 

@NTCleanStreets Agree. Likely to be problematic for all. Perhaps they could move en masse to temporary top-spec portacabins in St Andrew Sq.

@theSpurtle that at least would hide the brown patches before they become mud again. @NTCleanStreets

 Broughton Spurtle ‏@theSpurtle 

@CityCycling @NTCleanStreets Excellent. Glass half-green thinking. Deluded, but positive.

 Neil Jones This is probably all you need to know:

https://youtu.be/uMM0lRfX6YI