Bury St Edmunds: Former Bowers Motorcycles becomes showroom while plans for conversion materialise

Eighteen months after the demise of Bowers Motorcycles, a large premises in Bury St Edmunds has been filled by businesses looking to take off.

Stuart Bowers has applied for planning permission to convert 11-13 Risbygate Street into one smaller shop with seven apartments and parking. But while the project develops behind the scenes, two companies have moved into the front, now called Risbygate Showrooms.

Mr Bowers said: “We had to try something. We wanted to rent the building, but then Covid-19 came along. I had this idea to use it as a showroom and I’ll see how it will continue. We have to be positive.”

One of the first businesses to move in is Kuura, which sells Finnish-style Kirami hot tubs and saunas. Owner Jaana-Mari Ala-Korpi launched the company last October, having moved from Finland six years ago.

She said the the wood-fired hot tubs and saunas she specialises in trading have been in demand as the electric alternatives sell-out.

“It has all been Stuart’s initiative, he offered me the space and it was a no-brainer,” she said. “It is a new business and I would otherwise not be able to have a shop front. We will see how it goes, but I am enjoying being in Bury. It is a beautiful town and different to anywhere else.”

She added: “It is a good time for us in some ways as many more people are starting to turn to hot tubs. They are wanting to do-up their gardens. But holiday lets are a large market for us and they have been hit.”

Another business benefiting from the showroom is Town and Country Gardening Services. While Kuura is allowed to trade rent free, but gives commission on sales to Mr Bowers, the Bury St Edmunds-based landscaping, design, and maintenance is paying to advertise.

Managing director Nick Wiseman said: “We are renting part of the premises for displaying our works. We are displaying our fencing and patio work. It has been going well, we have been getting a lot of interest, and I am hoping people will begin to come back out shopping again.”

Mr Wiseman has recently taken his son Max, the only other member of staff, off furlough as business begins to pick up after a quiet period.

The pair are hoping to return to schools to run gardening clubs and provide work experience to teenagers with mental illness. They are also hoping to develop a linked business, Abbey Garden Studios, which provides bespoke offices. Mr Wiseman continued: “We had 43 jobs cancelled and were concerned for our finances. Stuart approached me, he knew it has been a hard time and we hope things turn around.”