Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Popular newsagent to close at end of month
A NEWSAGENT has said he will miss his customers after announcing his shop is to close after 17 years.
Habib Ullah, 46, a business partner at Ali’s Newsagent on Balmore Street in Stobswell, Dundee, said the shop will close at the end of this month.
Mr Ullah said he told customers of the pending closure a few weeks ago after spending nearly two decades in the street.
He said: “We are disappointed to close, but the big issue has been a lack of business and the bigger supermarkets in the area.
“We will close on the 30th of this month. We’ve sent out letters with our news delivery boys and been telling our customers over the last few weeks as they’ve come into the store.
“A few of them have said that they are concerned about their newspaper deliveries, so we are trying to advise them as best we can.”
Habib said his business partner, Muhammad Arshad, 69, will be “enjoying a well-earned retirement”.
He said: “We’ve been here since 2001 and will take a lot of memories away with us.
“We will miss the customers we have gained over the years.
“Muhammad will be enjoying a well-earned retirement and I will be taking on some work as a bookkeeper and other part-time work.”
Maryfield councillor Georgia Cruickshank said there needs to be a focus on improving local districts in 2018.
Ms Cruickshank said: “It is very sad to see small businesses going to the wall because of factors such as bigger supermarkets in the area.
“There needs to be a focus on rejuvenation in Stobswell — particularly in areas such as Albert Street and Balmore Street.
“The likelihood at the moment is that any focus on other local districts in Dundee will happen post V&A.
“Come 2018, we need to start focusing on other local districts.”
The closure comes just a week after Bashir Chohan, chairman of the Dundee Islamic Society, said there were serious concerns among corner shop owners throughout the city following a major downturn in business, as reported in the Tele.
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