July saw plenty of excitement as new businesses opened across Hertfordshire, but lots of sadness as beloved stores closed.
Here's 11 businesses that opened or closed last month.
Opening
1. Equires Coffee - Hitchin
The newest edition to Hitchin, Esquires Coffee replaced Chia Naturally Healthy, which closed down last month, at 8 Market Place, opening for the very first time on July 27.
"Our first day of business was nothing short of fantastic, and we are truly grateful for the unwavering support from the community and the tireless efforts of our hardworking team that made this a reality," read the Cooks Coffee Company website, the group that owns Esquires.
"Conveniently situated at 8 Market Place, our new store promises to be a haven for coffee enthusiasts and those seeking a delightful culinary experience."
🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 We're thrilled to announce the opening of our brand-new Esquires Hitchin Store! 🌟 Thank you for the amazing support from the community and our hardworking team that made this a reality. 👏 Visit us at 8 Market Place, Hitchin. ☕️😋 pic.twitter.com/Gem8Fs8y4o
— Cooks Coffee Company (@cookscoffeeco) July 28, 2023
2. Threads - Hitchin
Threads looks very different to most charity shops, and has a vision of being a "sustainable retailer of choice on the high street", hoping to have a positive impact on the planet while reducing 'fast fashion' and raising vital funds.
Carla Pilsworth, director of income generation at Garden House Hospice Care, said: "What we didn’t have was a brand that appealed to the younger audience that we want to attract in our shops.
"When speaking to customers loyal and new, we had feedback that our shops were great, but people wanted a different shopping experience which felt more comfortable and didn’t feel like a charity shop.
"Threads creates a space for the local community to shop, volunteer and give back through donations of unwanted items.
"Every purchase will make a change, turning pre-loved into re-loved while directly funding palliative care locally."
3. Always Loved - Welwyn
Operated by local charity, Isabel Hospice, and dedicated to women’s pre-loved fashion, it will replace SuSu, a much-loved women's clothing boutique that closed back in March.
"We are so excited to launch our new shop to the people of Welwyn," said Isabel Hospice’s head of retail and marketing, Charlotte Greenwood.
"The pre-loved fashion market is experiencing a surge and it has become fashionable to shop second hand. It is great that shoppers are changing their mindset and becoming more mindful of the effects of fast fashion on the environment.
"We feel that our shop name embraces both these messages and speaks to the unique preloved items in our shop, and the love and care that we provide to our patients and their families at such a difficult time."
4. Maz London - Welwyn Garden City
Selling all types of hats for both men and women, their new store a first for the business.
"We are so happy to welcome Maz London to the Howard Centre," read a post on the shopping centre's Facebook page.
"Maz London is an independent business that sells hats and accessories, and they were online only and have decided to open their first store here in the Howard Centre."
5. Pasta Evangelists - St Albans
The company was founded in 2016 and initially entered the takeaway market with a single unit in East London, but has now expanded to cover around 40 sites across the UK.
Alongside their pasta dishes, the takeaway also offers Italian lager, focaccia, burrata, charcuterie, cakes and Remeo gelato.
A spokesperson for Pasta Evangelists said that they "serve some of the UK’s freshest, artisanal pasta alongside high-quality sauces, inviting Brits to experience restaurant-quality pasta with minimal fuss" - and suggested you will get your food in "as little as" 15 minutes after ordering.
Closed
6. Barclays - Cuffley
Cuffley's Barclays branch will be closing later this year, the bank has announced.
The site will be one of 14 to shut down by the end of 2023, with the closure date for the Station Road branch confirmed as October 13.
Barclays will shut 142 sites this year and in 2024, with a spokeperson saying: "As visits to branches continue to fall, we need to adapt to provide the best service for all our customers.
"Where there is no longer enough demand to support a branch, we maintain an in-person presence though our Barclays Local network, live in over 200 locations, based in libraries, town halls, mobile vans and our new banking pods.
"We also support access to cash with our cashback without purchase service, 24-hour deposit-taking ATMs and by working alongside the Post Office and Cash Access UK."
7. Virgin Money - St Albans
"Changing customer demands" were blamed for its decision to close 38 sites across the UK, with up to 260 staff at risk of losing their jobs, according to Unite.
The branches are expected to close by the end of the year, with the St Peter's Street site among them.
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