One
of Coventry’s oldest stores is to close down after more than 90 years of trading in
the City.
Lynes Stores in Well Street will shut its doors for the last time at the close of
trading on Friday after diminishing trade has made it impractical to run.
Ironically, since publicly stating that they would have to close, Lynes, who stocked
everything from Swiss Army Knives to thermal underwear, has sold out of remaining stock
far sooner than expected.
Partner Colin Wake, whose father bought the store from founder Arthur Lynes in 1908,
does not know whether to laugh or cry at the recent boost in trade.
He said:
"People have realised that this is a genuine closing down sale and the store has
been quite busy. We were due to close down on the 22nd of this month but we
have sold nearly all of the stock so we have brought that forward.
"It is ironic because if the store had had this publicity before then maybe things
would have been different, but it has been a gradually declining business over the last
few years."
Mr Wake has worked at the shop for 40 years and says that although it has been
emotional both for him and his regular customers, Lynes closing down had become
inevitable.
"People who have been coming in are very sad to see the store go and obviously so
am I, but I think it is due to the changing face of retailing.
"Customers want to be able to go into a shop and see a full range of tents and
jackets on display and we simply do not have the room to do that," he said.
After his long service in the retail sector Mr Wake, who half owned the store with his
brother Leslie, has no plans to open another shop and says he will take a holiday before
making any decisions.
