Closed sign could go up permanently at the village store
A village’s last general store could close next year.
Hollingbourne shopkeeper Christopher Rudgard intends to retire in the spring after 12 years of running the store.
He sells newspapers and groceries seven days a week from his premises in Eyhorne Street, as well as hosting a post office service on Wednesdays.
Both Mr Rudgard, 75, and the business have been going through a difficult patch.
He said: “I’m not getting any younger. There’s nothing seriously wrong – just ageing.”
Business has been hit by falling tobacco sales and changing population demographics.
Many older residents, who had been regular customers, have died or moved away.
He said: “The newcomers do not use the shop as much as their predecessors, no doubt being younger they order groceries online and get their news via their phones or tablets.”
As a result turnover had fallen 20%.
He said business was also hampered by a lack of parking, adding: “Hollingbourne is a lovely village, but there’s no tourism and no passing trade.
“If there were, they wouldn’t have anywhere to stop.”
Less able to do long stints in the shop himself, his staff costs had increased and he says it is now losing too much for him to continue.
Mt Rudgard announced his intention to retire well in advance to give time for someone to come forward to take on the business, or for the village to consider whether it is run as a community shop.
He said: “It’s possible a new person with fresh ideas could make a go of it – I don’t have an alcohol licence for example – but I’m afraid I’ve run out of steam.”
When Mr Rudgard opened the store in premises previously occupied by an antiques shop, he was seen as a white knight by the village which had been without a general store for 10 months.
If the shop does close, it will leave Hollingboune with an osteopath, hairdressers, a building maintenance firm, a business selling garden sheds – and three pubs.
Hollingbourne Parish Council will discuss the shop’s future at its meeting in the Cardwell Pavilion on Monday at 7.30pm.