A beloved hardware shop in a medieval UK town has confirmed closure plans 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 revealed plans to retire late last year but initially hoped to find a buyer to replace them. After failing to secure a sale, however, they were forced to confirm the site’s imminent closure this week.
In a public statement, they said: “We have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is we will be closing the shop [in] May or June [as] we have unfortunately not been able to find a buyer. The good news is we have bargains galore available in the store, most items are half price already! Please continue to support us and pop in for the bargains! When they are gone, they are gone!”
Residents in the market town, which developed around an 11th-century castle in the 12th and 13th centuries, took to social media to express their sadness at the “terrible” news.
One person wrote: “This will be a huge loss to the town, such a shame. Feeling sorry for all the staff too, always so cheerful and helpful.”
Another said: “What a terrible shame, such a fantastic shop, never not been able to buy what I’m after in there.”
Others described it as a “sad loss” and a “blow” for Devizes, with one adding: “You will be missed and remembered, not least for your exceptional service and tolerance of my humour.”
Mr Henrich said he was hopeful that somebody would step up to take over the shop last year, even offering to stay on as an employee to help them “get it up and running”.
“They’d have a ready-made business which we could have only dreamt of,” he told the Gazette and Herald. “It would be a shame if it closed because I think it’s an asset to Devizes.
“People rely on us for certain products so if it went empty, I don’t know where they would go. If they shop online, the footfall on the high street would drop and impact other shops.”
Mainlys has gained a popular local reputation for its variety of stock, including tools, electrical accessories, gardening goods, cleaning products and seasonal items, across over 8,000 product lines.