Popular shop in medieval UK town shuts after 15 years | UK | News
A beloved hardware store in a medieval English town has confirmed plans to close after 15 years. Mainlys of Devizes has been a staple of the Wiltshire town’s retail scene for over a decade. Owners Colin and Clare Henrich announced their plans to retire late last year but initially hoped to find a buyer to replace them. But after failing to secure the sale, they were forced to confirm the site would be shut down soon this week.
In a public statement they said: “We have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that we will be closing shop [in] May or June [as] Unfortunately, we could not find a buyer. The good news is that we have lots of discounts in store, most items are already half price! Please continue to support us and participate in the opportunities! When they’re gone, they’re gone!”
Residents of the market town, which developed in the 12th and 13th centuries around an 11th-century castle, expressed their sadness on social media at the “terrible” news.
One person wrote: “This will be a huge loss for the town, such a shame. I feel bad for all the staff too, always so cheerful and helpful.”
Another said: “What a shame, what a great store, I could never buy what I was looking for there.”
Others described it as a “sad loss” and a “blow” for Devizes, while one person added: “You will be missed and remembered, especially for your outstanding service and tolerance of my humour.”
Mr. Henrich said he was hopeful someone would step in to take over the shop last year, even offering to stay on as an employee to help “get the business up and running.”
“They would have a ready-made business that we could only dream of,” he said Newspaper and Herald. “It would be a shame if it closed because I think it is an asset to Devizes.
“People rely on us for certain products so if it becomes vacant I don’t know where they will go. If they shop online it will reduce footfall on the high street and impact other stores.”
Mainlys has gained a popular local reputation for its range of stock across over 8,000 product groups including tools, electrical accessories, garden supplies, cleaning products and seasonal items.
