Sweetie Shop closure will leave a sour taste

A DUNDEE sweet shop is set to close its doors for the final time later this month after almost four decades in business.

The Sweetie Shop, in the Keiller Centre, has provided local people with traditional confectionery and ice cream since first opening more than 39 years ago.

Betty Hannan, 59, the current owner of the store, today blamed a downturn in trade as the main factor for her wrapping up the longestablished business.

She said: “The shop has been here for 39 years. I’ve had it for 13 years and my cousin Dot had it for 11 years before that.

“I’m not sure who had the shop previously but it has always been known as The Sweetie Shop.”

Betty, whose customers ranged from young children to pensioners in their 80s, said patrons were upset to hear she would be closing the store in the coming weeks.

She added: “Three generations of customers have been coming into this stop.

“I’ve served the parents when they were kids and now they come in with their children.

“A lot of people have been upset to hear the store will be closing.

“The management of the centre said there was an option of lowering the rent but it was too little too late — there just isn’t the custom any more.

“The shopping experience has changed nowadays. There are so many bargain stores throughout the city.

“It just wasn’t viable to keep the doors open.

“Since I’ve been in the centre, I’ve seen at least six other businesses move out.

“I’ll miss the customers and our fellow traders.

“There certainly isn’t any intention to keep the business oper- ating online or venue.”

The Keiller Centre was built in the 1970s and housed stores including Yvonne’s, which closed in 2016.

The closure of The Sweetie Shop comes almost a year after another mainstay store announced it was shutting its doors for the final time. MT Electrical — which had been based in the centre for more than two decades — cited a “lack of footfall” at the shopping centre before calling time on trade.

The Keiller Shopping Centre has been approached for comment but had not responded at the time of going to press. Dot Hannan in another

Owner Betty Hannan in The Sweetie Shop.