Arundale's in Colwyn Bay is due to close
Published date: 13 February 2013 |
Published by: Iwan BerryRead more articles by Iwan Berry
A COLWYN Bay greengrocers is closing its door after 126 years.
Arundale’s greengrocers, on Station Road, is to close within the next few weeks due to a decline in customers and the pressures facing the high street.
Owner Philip Arundale, 47, announced the closure of the store last week.
The grocery, which has been open in Colwyn Bay since 1887, will continue trading as a deliveries-only business, providing fruit and vegetables to restaurants, pubs, sandwich bars and some home deliveries.
Mr Arundale said: “The delivery side of the business is a lot stronger than the retail side, and my overheads are so high that I’m having to move to a warehouse-style building. It’s good that the Arundale’s name will continue as a buiness, but sad that we’re going off the high street.
“Part of the problem is what we hear all the time about empty town centres. If people like Jessops and Woolworths are closing, then it shows there’s less footfall in the town centres, and that’s the problem we have.
“I think it’s something that’s happening to everyone. There’s no greengrocers in Llandundo; Abergele; Old Colwyn, and they’ve all shut over the last few years.
"I’m proud we’ve held on as long as we have, but eventually something had to give.”
He added that he had worked at the shop for 32 years, taking over from his father John Arundale in 1987, and was saddened that he would have to say goodbye to regular customers.
“We’ve had so many faithful customers and that’s something I’m very sad about. There’s people that have been coming in for years.”
“I don’t want to close it. It’s very sad.”
Cllr Viv Perry, Mayor of Colwyn Bay, described news of the closure as a “shame”.
She said: “Colwyn Bay was driven by a lot of small family businesses, and you can’t imagine Colwyn Bay without Arundale’s.”
Arundale’s greengrocers, on Station Road, is to close within the next few weeks due to a decline in customers and the pressures facing the high street.
Owner Philip Arundale, 47, announced the closure of the store last week.
The grocery, which has been open in Colwyn Bay since 1887, will continue trading as a deliveries-only business, providing fruit and vegetables to restaurants, pubs, sandwich bars and some home deliveries.
Mr Arundale said: “The delivery side of the business is a lot stronger than the retail side, and my overheads are so high that I’m having to move to a warehouse-style building. It’s good that the Arundale’s name will continue as a buiness, but sad that we’re going off the high street.
“Part of the problem is what we hear all the time about empty town centres. If people like Jessops and Woolworths are closing, then it shows there’s less footfall in the town centres, and that’s the problem we have.
“I think it’s something that’s happening to everyone. There’s no greengrocers in Llandundo; Abergele; Old Colwyn, and they’ve all shut over the last few years.
"I’m proud we’ve held on as long as we have, but eventually something had to give.”
He added that he had worked at the shop for 32 years, taking over from his father John Arundale in 1987, and was saddened that he would have to say goodbye to regular customers.
“We’ve had so many faithful customers and that’s something I’m very sad about. There’s people that have been coming in for years.”
“I don’t want to close it. It’s very sad.”
Cllr Viv Perry, Mayor of Colwyn Bay, described news of the closure as a “shame”.
She said: “Colwyn Bay was driven by a lot of small family businesses, and you can’t imagine Colwyn Bay without Arundale’s.”
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