Fife traders have been left reeling after the shock closure of one of Kirkcaldy’s newest high street stores.
15:17, which opened in the former Debenhams unit just five weeks ago, has already shut up shop.
And a number of businesses who ran concessions within the building are now homeless and thousands of pounds out of pocket.
15:17 leases space to small businesses and, in most cases, takes commission from their sales.
Traders were told on Monday the shop would close. It did not reopen on Tuesday.
‘Not seen a penny’ of sales
Kelly Brown of luxury home fragrance boutique Rock N Rose Aromas, thinks she has lost more than £1,000.
She said she was absolutely devastated by the sudden closure after finding out through a group WhatsApp message on Monday night.
“Over the past five weeks I’ve made more than £1,000 of sales and I’ve not seen a penny of it,” said Kelly.
“Now the shop’s been closed and I’ve been told to go in for my stock.
“All my customers have been trying to support me so have been coming to the shop instead of buying through my Facebook page.
“I’m really angry I’ve put their hard-earned money into this.”
Another operator was told to clear their stock by the end of Monday.
“I went to work yesterday and was told the store was going into liquidation,” she said.
“They said the 15:17 store in Ayr store would continue. It was a shock.”
Investment by 15:17 in Kirkcaldy High Street
15:17’s launch was hailed as hugely positive for Kirkcaldy High Street, which has suffered a number of high-profile closures over the past few years.
By sub-dividing the large retail space, it offered a leg-up to traders who would otherwise be unable to operate in the town centre. It also has stores in Ayr, Harlow and Worthing.
But the first signs of trouble appeared at the weekend when the sign was removed from the front of the building.
Kelly said: “You put your trust in these places and then this happens.
“It was a really nice idea to have something like a department store you could get anything in.
“It was all small, local businesses.
“A lot of positive things could have happened but now everybody’s lost money and we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Hopes for future
Other businesses were hopeful the format could still prove successful.
Gemma Lumsden of crystal gift shop Something Magick said she had been busy in the shop.
She said: “I am really, really sad. I think it had the potential to be a really busy shop.
“I have a positive mindset and believe that everything happens for a reason and I’ll now look for another shop. I hope that someone else takes it over.”
Katie Lockwood, managing director, of children’s clothing firm Little Lord and Lady expressed her sadness at the sudden closure.
She said: “Rejuvenating the High Street is something we want to do.
“Our high streets are becoming places that people don’t populate and that’s such a shame especially in a place like Kirkcaldy where there’s a phenomenal community.
“We would love to be part of any future there is for the store in Kirkcaldy.”
Danny Cepok , development manager with community organisation Love Oor Lang Toun, said the closure is disappointing.
“I saw this morning the sign was a down and there was a closed sign on the door,” he said. “I wondered what was going on.
“It’s such a shame this has happened.
“I suppose the only thing we can hope for is somebody might come along and take it over.”
15:17 did not respond to a request for comment.