A MUCH-LOVED children’s shoe store has announced it will be closing its doors for the last time.
Elves & the Shoemaker in Canterbury, Kent, said it had become “another casualty of the failing high street” after experiencing a lack of footfall.
The shop has sold children‘s shoes, toys and accessories on the local high street for years.
It declared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, saying it would be forced to shut in the next couple of weeks.
“It is with great sadness that I am announcing this but the time has come. Elves & the Shoemaker is closing,” the store’s owner wrote.
“We’ve all seen lots of businesses closing for a while and sadly, we are now another casualty of the failing high street.
“The footfall into the shop has consistently reduced since Covid which has made having a good selection of stock difficult and keeping the shop open and paying for staff unsustainable.”
The shop is now holding a closing down sale with 35% off everything.
It will be open all weekend and cash payments are preferred, it said.
The shop added: “Please, please, please share so we can go out with a bang!
“Thank you to all our customers who have supported us over the years and to all the staff, past and present, who have worked tirelessly to provide an exceptional service.”
Any items bought in the sale will be non-returnable.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”New Beginning for The Body Shop” 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=”6361660529112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Canterbury residents appeared devastated by the news, with many commenting on and sharing the Facebook post.
One pointed out: “You know what I find sad. This post has 81 likes, 22 shares and numerous comments. It’s a shame that this didn’t happen on all your posts!
“If people did that regularly to posts of small independent business things like this would likely not happen.”
Another said they were “so incredibly sad” and the shop would be “missed”.
“Both of my children had their first shoes from you and we have never been anywhere else since,” they said.
They added: “So sorry you have had to make this decision xx.”
Another commenter wrote: “Such a shame! We absolutely love these small independent shoe shops and it’s so sad that they are all disappearing, thank you for all of your lovely shoes over the last 6 years! Xxx.”