“USE us or lose us” is the message from an iconic records store in Leigh that is considering closing after 46 years of business.
Sandra Bennett, 58, and dad Peter Driscoll, 83, are owners of Fives Records in Leigh’s Broadway.
This week, Sandra put out a heartfelt plea to the residents of Leigh about the struggles they have been facing over the past few months.
Fives Records first opened in Leigh back in 1977, which after just a year they outgrew so moved into a bigger premises where they stayed for 25 years.
They later moved to 103 Broadway, where they have remained ever since. A second branch opened in Rayleigh in 1981,although that closed back in 2006.
Sandra has admitted things have been “worse than ever” and they are now considering closing the Leigh site for good.
She said: “We are considering closing after 46 years and I wanted to just explain to customers and friends as to why.
“Leigh has been deadly quiet for a while now, but last week was the worst week we have ever known in 46 years of trading.
“Things have been bad for the last two years, but it seems to be getting worse. The demographics in Leigh has changed a lot with no banks and hardly any retail shops for people to browse round.
“We just need people to use us, or they will lose us. We are only a small shop and cannot stock everything - but we do try and offer a good customer service by ordering anything if it is possible for people.
“People come in and say what a lovely shop, but then we never see them again.
“We used to be very busy on new release days and now we are lucky if we sell just one.
“Leigh has changed so much in the last 10 years, and in our opinion, it isn’t for the better.
“We have been talking about it weekly for the last few months and sometimes nearly just put closed on the door.
“It is awful and heartbreaking. My dad has put so much into the shop but it just isn’t what it used to be.”
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