Traders at a long-standing Edinburgh market have welcomed the reopening of Princes Street, saying the return of buses and trams offers a chance to recover trade that dipped after a building fire on 9 July forced the thoroughfare to close for seven weeks.
Transport link seen as vital to trading recovery
Vendors at Castle Street Market, which has appeared regularly for nearly 20 years, said the loss of direct bus and tram stops had been immediately visible in reduced customer numbers. The market attracts a mix of tourists and local shoppers, and traders said the disruption hit takings during what is normally a lucrative summer period, boosted by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Alan Hannah, who sells clothing and Scottish goods at the market, told the Press Association that local customers had been staying away when buses were diverted from Princes Street. One stallholder who has traded at the market for more than a decade said the slowdown was tangible, though tourist traffic remained.
“It’s great, it’s just such a delight to have it open and back to running,”
The return of public transport is expected to bring more local shoppers back along with visitors. Traders described the reopening as a practical and psychological boost — restoring direct access to the main shopping spine of the city and signalling that the disruption is over.
Small businesses pin hopes on immediate uplift
Several stallholders stressed how quickly footfall had changed once buses and trams were removed, underlining how dependent small retailers are on through-traffic rather than destination visits alone. Douglas Copland, who with his wife Meredith runs a jewellery stall and has attended the market for 12 years, said the weeks after the fire had “definitely” been quieter and that the reopening might help them finish the season strongly.
Castle Street Flowers’ trader Andy McCreath recalled being advised not to attend on the day of the blaze and described an “immediate change in footfall” when transport links were withdrawn.
- Immediate effect: Traders reported a sharp fall in passing customers once services were diverted.
- Short-term expectation: Reinstated buses and trams should increase local shopper numbers and tourists.
- Timing: Reopening comes during the Fringe and at the tail end of several stalls’ trading runs.
For micro and small businesses that depend on daily sales, even short-term disruptions can erode weekly incomes, force tighter margins and, in prolonged cases, threaten the viability of seasonal operations. While traders did not provide figures, the consensus was that restoring transport corridors would materially improve prospects for takings in the coming days.
Wider implications for city-centre economy
Transport connectivity is a key driver of high‑street resilience. When buses and trams stop serving a major street, spending tends to shift to locations with easier access or to online channels — a pattern that compounds pressure on rents and staff retention in affected areas. Reopening Princes Street should reduce friction for shoppers and could stabilise incomes for traders already feeling the strain of rising costs across the retail supply chain.
There are also reputational considerations. A high-profile closure can deter visitors for longer than the physical disruption lasts, particularly during a period when the city is showcasing itself to international visitors. Traders said the reopening itself could become a draw, encouraging passers-by to return and browse market stalls they might otherwise have missed.
| Trader | Stall | Years at market | Reported impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Hannah | Clothing & Scottish goods | — | Locals stayed away when buses diverted |
| Douglas & Meredith Copland | Jewellery | 12 years | Footfall down in weeks after fire |
| Andy McCreath | Castle Street Flowers | — | Advised to stay away on day of the blaze; immediate change in footfall |
Traders said they were optimistic about a strong weekend now services have resumed, with some hoping for a late-season boost as market stalls wind down their summer trading. Whether the uptick in customers translates into sustained improvement will depend on how quickly regular local shoppers return and whether perceptions about the area’s safety and accessibility are fully repaired.
The episode is a reminder that shocks to transport and city infrastructure can ripple quickly into small business incomes, with real implications for livelihoods and the local economy. For now, traders are banking on renewed footfall restoring revenues that were lost during a difficult seven-week stretch.
