A Clarks shoe shop has reopened today in Abingdon's shopping precinct.

Shoppers were disappointed when the store in the Bury Street precinct closed suddenly in April.

They were given almost no warning before a notice was placed in the window and tearful staff left the store.

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It emerged that the franchisee running the shop, and the Clarks in Wallingford, had decided to close them both.

But now a different franchisee, Robert Bates, has decided to reopen the Abingdon store but not the Wallingford one, and the first new customers have been visiting today.

One customer said: "I'm glad Clarks is back open. I've just bought a new pair of shoes so I won't be buying anything today but I'm going in to have a look."

Mr Bates, who was at the store today, said is hopeful there will be enough footfall in Abingdon to support the shop.

He added: "We're very pleased to reopen this Clarks shoe shop - we have been getting new stock in - we want to make sure we are ready for the new school term."

Mr Bates runs 13 other Clarks shops from Neath in West Wales to Witney and Stratford.

He opened the Stratford store last year and started working for Clarks when he was 24.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Mr Bates has taken a five-year lease on the shop unit in Bury Street.

Some new stock is already in the store and some stock is on order.

The Vodafone store in the precinct closed in May and following the temporary Clarks closure it prompted concerns about empty units in the precinct.

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The reopening of Clarks has been welcomed by Ian Collett, who runs The Bookstore in the precinct.

Popular footwear chain Clarks was founded in 1825 and operated across over 1,400 stores and franchises internationally at its peak but, as of July 2023 the brand had just 320 stores.

The return of the Bury Street shoe shop will save Abingdon shoppers a trip to Clarks in Witney, Didcot or Oxford.

There is also a Clarks in Banbury, but the Bicester Village store closed last year.

Clarks opened a large new shop at the Westgate Centre earlier this year, and plans to close its Cornmarket Street branch in September.

Clarks started out in Street in Somerset in 1825 when brothers Cyrus and James Clark crafted a slipper from sheepskin offcuts.

A number of new businesses have opened in Abingdon, including a wine bar in the market place, and dessert parlours in High Street and Bath Street.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.