New deli boost for Harrogate street with just one empty shop

Harrogate’s Commercial Street is “bucking the national trend” with just one vacant shop among more than 30 businesses, traders have said.

The Commercial Street Retailers Group made the claim as it welcomed news that an independent sandwich shop and deli is set to move into the former Rafi’s Spicebox unit.

The new business will occupy 10 Commercial Street, after Rafi’s closed its doors on June 27 following 12 years on the street.

The family-run Indian food shop built up a loyal following after opening in June 2014, with customers able to watch curries being mixed by hand and choose their preferred level of heat.

Its closure was described as a “heavy heart” decision by director Kevin Fernandez, who said the “challenging retail environment and ever-increasing financial pressure” had made it impossible to continue trading from the site.

Now the Commercial Street Retailers Group says the arrival of the new deli will leave just one empty unit on the street.

In a post on its Instagram account, the group said: “Commercial Street continues to buck the national trend.”

It said there were more than 30 shops on the street and just one vacant unit, compared with a national average of roughly one in eight high-street shops being empty.

The group attributed the low vacancy rate to Harrogate shoppers and the independent businesses which make the street a distinctive shopping destination.

It said the achievement was a “testament to the fantastic local community and the businesses that make our independent shopping district so unique”.

Plans for the new deli have now been approved by North Yorkshire Council.

The business, proposed by SFG Darlington Ltd, will primarily sell cold food including sandwiches, salads, snacks and drinks.

The menu is expected to include club and roast beef sandwiches, salads, Scotch eggs and sausage rolls, with around 20 per cent of sales made up of hot food such as fried chicken, burgers and breakfast baps.

Around four or five small tables will provide limited seating, although most customers are expected to buy food to take away, according to the plans.

The shop is due to open from 10am to 3pm on Tuesdays to Thursdays and from 10am to 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Planning officers said the business would operate more like a deli or café than a traditional hot food takeaway.

An opening date has yet to be announced.

Rafi’s Spicebox customers can still order online, while the business also has a counter at Ilkley Booths and a shop on Goodramgate in York.