Shop shuts after decades in town (From Malvern Gazette)

Shop shuts after decades in town

9:25am Wednesday 12th September 2007 in News

A SPORTS shop in the centre of Malvern is shutting its doors after at least 30 years trading from the same site.

Steve Guest, owner of Malvern Sports in Graham Road, said he took the difficult decision after trying and failing to sell the shop as a going concern.

Mr Guest, of Powick, who has owned the business for at the past 11 years, said: "I'm moving on for a number of reasons, but really trade is the big issue.

"Trading in the town centre is, I think, becoming more difficult, and it's been like that since the Waitrose development and, especially the Morrisons development.

"If someone came and asked me what the best thing that could be done to help town centre traders, I'd say do something about the parking. With free parking at the edge of town, how can we compete?

"But parking is the one thing that actually can be addressed. If something is done, it will actually give the town centre traders a level playing field."

Mr Guest said he hoped the shop unit, which he owns, will not remain empty for long and that he is already in contact with prospective purchasers. Mr Guest will now concentrate on his other business of property development.

"I would like to thank all my loyal customers who've stuck by me," he said. "It's just a shame that Malvern won't have its own independent sports shop any more."

Malvern Sports will close at the end of the month. Until then, the shop is holding a sale, with all stock at half price.