A FAMILY-RUN shoe shop has announced it’s closing its doors after 13 years — with owners saying they’re doing so with a “heavy heart.”
The much-loved store is now launching a “massive” clearance sale as it prepares to shut for good.
The owners of Colton Footwear said running the shop had become “simply too hard” in recent months.
They said the decision “hadn’t been taken lightly” and thanked loyal customers for “13 wonderful years” of support.
In a statement on Facebook, they said: “Unfortunately, the retail landscape has changed too much over the last decade – between the shift to online shopping, rising business rates and increased energy prices – that keeping this location going has simply become too hard.
“We will be closing our doors here for the final time in about 8 weeks. We want to say a massive THANK YOU to the Chesham community.
“Thank you for welcoming us and supporting us; we have been so proud to be a part of your town.”
Customers took to social media to share their sadness at the news, with many saying they were gutted to see the much-loved shop go.
On Google, they have a score of 4.8/5 from 10 reviews.
One described it as “a great loss” to the market town.
A second said: “That’s a real shame. [I] started using you guys for my kids’ schools shoes and your staff were really helpful and made a thoroughly painful experience with two teenage boys very easy and nowhere near as nerve-wracking as it can be.
“Good luck and you’ll be greatly missed.”
Another said they were “sad” to see it go — joking it would likely be replaced by “another coffee shop or nail bar”.
It comes as the number of companies falling into administration surged by nearly a third in February – highlighting the growing pressure on UK businesses.
Retailers in particular have been hit hard by rising costs, falling footfall and shifting shopping habits.
Industry experts warn more closures could be on the way if trading conditions fail to improve.
