Four candles gone !

[Bullet2012]

Another real shop gone.

Family-run Fleet ironmongers closes after 112 years

The business in Fleet, started in 1908, will close its door for the final time on Thursday.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Edward Teach]

Another real shop gone.

Family-run Fleet ironmongers closes after 112 years

The business in Fleet, started in 1908, will close its door for the final time on Thursday.

www.bbc.co.uk

I like Your Title

 

[Migmac]

A shame. We'll never see the likes of these wee shops again once they’re closed

 

[fizzy]

A shop like that used to have tiny overheads and could easily provide an income even if it only had a few customers through the store each day.
Business rates have killed so many businesses. Along with pedestrian zones and out of town shopping centres.
The centre of Swansea was dead well before the boom in internet shopping!

 

[Parm]

This one is near me, still going strong

Home | Odell & Co. Ltd. - Ironmongers & Cookshop - Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes (odellandco.co.uk)

 

[Munkul]

rates are an abomination, they should only apply to large chains IMO.

 

[Parm]

Mr Odell is the chap on the right, lovely old boy. He collects and restores Japanese wood working tools as a hobby.

Those little boxes and drawers behind the counter are full of all sorts of little treasures

Two Ronnies 'Four Candles' sketch recreated in 280-year-old shop - BBC News

 

[Bobupndown]

Sad when shops like that close, still a few about Northern Ireland, Andys Stores in Newtownabbey, McDowell's in Gleno, Dennis Wilson in Glenavy, but definitely a dying breed.

 

[pcwizme]

This one is near me, still going strong

Home | Odell & Co. Ltd. - Ironmongers & Cookshop - Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes (odellandco.co.uk)

They have a decent website, this is what many of the same type of stores lack (our local one closed due to the owners son making more money are a IT developer and not wanting to take the family buisness on. I dont blame him, long hours, low footfall and of course the store needs tlc but with homebase and b and q and wickes within a 10 min drive thats where you go.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Cox's in Rugby is another lovely old ironmongers. I took a friend who lives on a narrow boat in as he needed some small brass screws. Ah, said the owner, which style, have a look on this display cabinet tucked away here, we have 17 different ones in brass in that size! My friends jaw dropped, absolutely gobsmacked. His bill for the ones he chose was about £1.20!
At the other end of town, Maddens is half newsagent and half equally bonkers hardware/ironmongers. Rugby is doubly blessed in this respect!

 

[bricol]

If its anything like around here, the hassle involved in queuing into town, finding a space to park, finding a working machine to pay, fingers crossed the car is a) still there b) in the same number of pieces c) in the same arrangement as you left it, then dealing with the clowns begging, hassling for signing this, that and t'other, then queuing back out . . . means I go the other way to a bigger, industrial place on the outskirts of the second nearest town.

There is a small DIY shop, not really an ironmongers, in my little town, but rarely actually seems to be open when I wander past - its within a 5min walk of home, so I do try and have on occasion managed to buy the odd thing from them.

They do have "four candles" in one window though

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Sadly, the interweb of all things and its online shopping has sounded the death knell for such local establishments. It's happening all over the country.

 

[Munkul]

well the internet doesn't fix everything.

I put an order in on ebay for 4off 5/8"BSF fully threaded setscrews. Fpr £25 delivered. Rip-off, but that's what I needed.

They delivered 1off 5/8"BSF bolt, with plain unthreaded shank.

Wouldn't have got that, if I'd went to a decent ironmongers.

 

[pedrobedro]

There used to be one in Chesterfield, when it closed it ended up as the Green Room, a sort of rock bar. A lot of the stock went to museums.

 

[MysterG]

Dentons in Chippenham used to be great for all sorts of odds and sods.
There's flats where it was now

 

[Domdom]

I still miss Trewartha’s in Callington where I grew up. That lovely feeling of wooden floorboards, people in brown coats, the musty smell, just fantastic. I think it might still be there but not been back to Cornwall for years.
Also, Isaac Lord in High Wycombe was brilliant, same story.
Far better than Amazon, DIY stores etc.

 

[Blobber]

Simbles of Watford, more of a tool shop but boy the place was stuffed with gear in every room, hanging from any available wall space and ceiling, not been for years so I assume its still the same

 

[4String.]

Sadly, the interweb of all things and its online shopping has sounded the death knell for such local establishments. It's happening all over the country.

This shot doesn't do it justice but these places are one of the main reasons why small shops are closing:


A new Amazon warehouse near Swindon that's under construction. There's a few hundred loading bays on this site and it's safe to say that it really is doing it on an epic scale. Love it or loathe it, online shopping is here to stay and with a business model like Amazon's it's no wonder small retailers can't compete.

The masses will always bow their heads in supplication at Jeff Bezos' altar but I'd rather spend my money where it's needed and keep it local. The old saying "use it or lose it" has never been so appropriate.

 

[Olderisbetter]

Really sad that a century of history and service has to stop, not many places can compete with the likes of ebay and amazon and it is the same with toy shops all the indepandant ones are pretty much gone, i think we are one of the last that is just doing toys but we have a loyal customer base.

 

[bourbon]

Really sad that a century of history and service has to stop, not many places can compete with the likes of ebay and amazon and it is the same with toy shops all the indepandant ones are pretty much gone, i think we are one of the last that is just doing toys but we have a loyal customer base.

Yes and I promised you that we would come down and see you. We will soon.