IT is good news for Evesham High Street after a shop which was forced to close at the start of the recession reopened this week at the same premises.

Clothes shop Bonk, a reincarnation of the Surfantix store owned by local businessman Alex Mellor and his partner Kim Dunn, officially opened at 31 High Street on Saturday (October 1), some three years after it was forced to close.

High rents had priced Alex and Kim out of business in 2008 and the premises had lain empty since then. But thanks to new landlord Barry Steele who has offered them “the right lease” the duo have returned to give it another go.

Kim, who will be managing the shop, said: “The Evesham shop was always successful. We had five other shops at the time and had planned to downgrade and keep the Evesham shop, but in the end we were forced to close because the landlord at the time tried to double the rent.

“The premises was bought by Barry Steele and he has done us a nice deal on the rent. We have been working together closely and we think he is a firm supporter of local businesses.

“We did not want to close the shop before so we are very happy to be opening again. Everybody we have spoken to has told us Evesham needs independent shops like this and we hope it will be one of the best shops of its kind in the area.”

Bonk, which is a skateboarding term, will be selling a wide range of urban fashion and skate equipment.

Kim added: “We admit this is a difficult time to be setting up a business but our feedback tells us Evesham needs enterprises like this and we hope people will support us and other businesses here in the High Street.”