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Town centre retailers blame the introduction of a weekly market for a dent in takings.
When the stalls were brought to Mortimer Street, Herne Bay, in 2014, it was hoped shops would benefit from the increased footfall.
But members of staff at The Studio have since noticed a sharp fall in business, prompting the decision to close the store at 1pm on Saturdays.
Photographer John Potts said: “It used to be our busiest day of the week, but with the market in town it’s possibly the quietest day of the week. We’re not selling anything that’s also being sold at a market stall, yet people just don’t come in.
“Although the town looks busy when the market’s on, they’re not coming into my shop.”
Mr Potts says the stalls leave “a trail of destruction” of empty boxes and packaging each week.
Scott Taylor, the owner of Taylor Meats in Mortimer Street, blames the running of the event for the damage it has inflicted to town centre business.
He said: “It’s not drawing new people to Mortimer Street. It doesn’t make people think, ‘We’ve got to get down Herne Bay on Saturday, the market’s out of this world’.
“There was massive optimism when the market first came here and there were talks of that going down Bank Street – but we’re a million miles away from that now.
“It’s not a positive experience. The opinion of some of my fellow retailers here is we’ve been stitched up.”
Canterbury City Council moved the market from the former King’s Road car park five years ago to make way for Aldi.
Mr Taylor thinks it should be moved to Wimereux Square.
However, Greensteads owner Mustafa Mutlu says his business benefits from a 10% increase in trade every Saturday.
Local authority spokesman Rob Davies insists the move to Mortimer Street has been a success.
“Herne Bay’s Saturday market moved in May 2014 with two clear aims – to increase footfall to the market and the town centre, and to free up the King’s Road site for development,” he said.
“The market remains popular and still brings people into the town on Saturdays, but it’s important to ensure it provides the service and products its customers want and that other businesses in the area benefit from it being there.
“We have already been to see one local trader to hear their concerns about the market and will be looking into the issue further in the weeks ahead.”
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