Strathspey village stores close through 'lack of footfall'
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Nethy Bridge has lost its Spar shop.
The doors closed for the last time yesterday (Wednesday).
After 32 years, owner Andy Young told the Strathy the footfall at the store and Post Office on Dell Road was just too low now to justify continuing.
He said: “I’ll be 72 this year and that’s another factor, but the way things are with the cost of living and the deliveries now being made by the big supermarkets in the area, there was no choice for us but to call it a day.
“It’s very sad as I have enjoyed serving the community and have been very grateful for the customers’ support over the years, particularly after I developed the business from the wee corner shop my then wife, Katherine, and I bought initially, to the size and scope it is now.”
He is now planning to put the business and premises on the market but there were various options being considered with his advisors first. One of them is even a possible community buy-out.
A meeting was held last night by the village’s community development company.
"It is a sad day to see our shop close," said John Kirk, one of the directors of the community development company.
"Andy has been a great supporter of the village and ran a great village store. We wish him well in his retirement.
"The costs of running these small businesses have gone through the roof and having half the village houses empty in the winter does not help. A lot of small community stores get wind farm support but we get nothing."
But work was in hand looking at the prospects of a community take-over, with funding possibilities being investigated.
"We will know more next week," Mr Kirk said.
"But if it is the community's wish to try and open the shop again it will be hard work and will need a lot of local support.
The community company had had a good meeting last night, he reported.
"There is a will to try and save the shop if no buyer comes forward, but we will have more information next week and an open meeting in the hall to ask for the village s opinion.
"In the mean time we will look at finance and we are interested in all ideas."
