AN historic upper dale shop is closing after more than a century of trading.
Known as “not just a hardware shop”, J Raine & Son, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, is to close at the end of September.
For the past 43 years it has been run by the Mitchell family and after the retirement of Christine Mitchell, in May 2020, was run by Nigel Mitchell, his daughter Lyn McLoughlin and grandson Jacob Mitchell.
Ms McLoughlin said the reason for the closure was a lack of footfall.
She added: “It is because of online sales, retail parks, the list goes on.
“People go to work in Bishop [Auckland] or Darlington and they can just pick up what they need. Supermarkets are doing everything now, so you can even get decorating paints. It is very sad.”
Ironically, when the trio took over it was at the height of covid and the shop became an absolute necessity for many people who were forced to stay at home in lockdown.
Ms McLoughlin said: “We were a lifeline during covid, everybody used us. We were delivering all the way to Barnard Castle, and it was free delivery – it was gardening, DIY, all sorts like pet stuff, gas and coal. We still do free delivery.
“It was a lot of hard work because obviously we were struggling to get stock because there was a shortage of everything, so we were trying to keep up the stock and keep everyone happy.”
The shop is having a closing down sale and will finally close at the end of September, unless everything is sold off before then.
The building, which is in the heart of the village and covers about 4,000 square feet, is on the market for £250,000.
