Shops / Zetland Road
Independent business reopens in new location
A business owner has relocated to new premises, saying changes to transport and roads in the city centre prompted the move.
In September 2014, KimonoKimono, an independent shop offering authentic and vintage Japanese art and culture, made its trading debut on Perry Road opposite Zerodegrees.
Nine years down the line and the business has vacated its original premises and reopened on Zetland Road in Redland.
Bristol24/7 spoke to owner Phil Porter on the day KimonoKimono reopened.
Explaining his reasons for moving, Porter said: “On Perry Road we were on the edge of a new clean air zone and the council replaced car parking with cycle lanes. It used to be a vibrant trading street, but that’s no longer the case.
“With no access for cars or buses, our business went down.”
Kimonokimono has relocated from Perry Road to Zetland Road
Porter added: “It’s difficult if people can’t get to you. Are customers really going to make the effort if they have to pay for travel?”.
He hopes that Zetland Road will offer a more convenient location for future customers so that his business can improve, adding “it’s a more residential area with younger families”.
Marketed as a treasure trove for kimono lovers, textile collectors and interior designers, KimonoKimono deals in authentic Japanese vintage and antique kimono, obi and dressing accessories.
The new premises, which was previously home to Green Woods Furniture, is full of painted hanging scrolls and cultural objects d’art.
KimonoKimono sells a range of authentic and vintage kimonos in various designs
All photos: Isobel Edwards
Read next:
- Independent coffee shop set to close
- Gift shop named among UK’s top 100 small businesses
- Plant and lifestyle shop closes due to rising costs
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
