A BELOVED kitchenware store is closing down after serving loyal customers on the high street for 42 years.
Residents in the town were devastated to hear the shop will be drawing its blinds for good this weekend.
The Kitchen Range in Llandudno, Wales announced it will officially close on Saturday, March 8 — sparking despair amongst locals.
Owner Robin Whitehead said the decision came down to him finally retiring after 42 years operating in the town.
Whitehead, who opened the store in 1983, used to run several businesses in the area.
In January he announced a closing down sale — with there now being only “so little left”.
He added that he would be putting the property up for auction after closing day.
Store manager Janet Gordon told The North Wales Pioneer: “It is time for him to retire now.
“It’s nothing to do with trade – he would’ve carried on going had he been younger.
“It’s purely because he’s retiring and he had a health scare a year ago, so it’s best for him to finish now and enjoy.
“All things come to an end.”
Locals flooded Facebook with emotional messages and support for Robin.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Iconic department store follows Macy’s and reveals it’s ‘forced’ to close down in weeks after ‘more than a century'” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6369060183112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]One person called the closure “a great loss for the town and beyond.”
Another wrote: “So sad to see this shop go — happy retirement to Robin.”
A third added: “Just a big thank you to Robin, his late wife and the amazing staff at the Kitchen Range, Llandudno for the wonderful years they have contributed to the town.
“Speciality shops are rare and we’ve lost so many. Wishing them all a happy onward journey.
Although the store didn’t close due to financial difficulty — it follows many similar losses caused by the cost of living and a lack of footfall on the high street.
DIY store Nibletts Mica in Builth Wells, Powys recently announced it will be shutting down when stocks run out.
It told locals the closure had come down to “falling sales and greatly increased costs over recent years intensified by changes to rates and recent NI increases.”
Second hand clothing store The Closet at Harker also drew its blinds at the end of last year.
And all Types Electrical in Rotherham shut for good after over five decades of trade on Christmas Eve.
Trouble on the High Street
Plenty of other retailers are closing stores across the high street as shoppers turn to online browsing and it becomes pricier for businesses to pay costs.
Soaring inflation has also made it harder for households to splash out on shopping.
Analysis by the Centre of Retail Research shows 13,479 stores (37 a day) shut for good in 2024.
11,341 of those were independent shops while 2,138 were shut by larger retailers.
More than half the stores that closed last year came down to the retailer suffering insolvency proceedings.
Many retail giants are shutting stores in 2025 too.
For example, Shoe Zone are have shrunk from around 320 stores in May last year to just 297 — with more closures expected to come.
Anthony Smith, Shoezone’s Chief Executive, said: “Shoezone has experienced very challenging trading conditions, principally a weakening of consumer confidence and unseasonal weather, both of which have decreased revenue and profit.
“Consumer confidence has weakened further following the Government’s budget in October 2024.”
Homebase has also launched closing down sales across the country.
The chain, which has lost 34 branches just this year, fell into administration last month.
Around 70 stores were rescued by CDS Superstores, the owner of The Range and Wilko.