This Is Guernsey

By Anna Brehaut

A year ago already. Brian Gabriel shuts up shop for good. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0512078)

THE former Gabriel’s shops are no longer for sale.

A year ago today the family-run business closed and the premises were put on the market.

But the Gabriel family has now decided to withdraw the 10 shops from sale.

Brian Gabriel, who was a director of the business, said the family had come to the decision as the property market had begun to fall.

‘We are looking at other plans,’ he said. ‘We will be seeking advice and then, once we have had some, we will have a clearer idea of what we will do.’

He said that the family had many ideas as to what it could do with the buildings.

‘Some are sensible and some aren’t, but the buildings will remain for retail purposes. The other floors may not.’

However, Mr Gabriel said it was highly unlikely that the shops would return as Gabriel’s.

‘I very much doubt that. We are all getting older now and all the children have moved on and done other things.’

He said it was a joint family decision to take the properties off the market.

Last year the Gabriel family had decided to try and sell all the properties in Fountain Street in one lot, including numbers 22 and 24, which were let to Good News Christian Book Shop and Trim Dog Pet Centre.

Phoenix Construction had previously viewed the properties but did not take the matter further.

A spokesman for the company said he thought the asking price was around £5m.

‘The properties do need a lot of work and from looking at it you would probably have to do the work all in one lot.

‘It would be such a major job and the price is pretty high.’

He also said that the properties were listed as retail and the company dealt with local residential properties.

Article posted on 1st December, 2008 - 2.29pm