Darley Abbey Village Store Closes Abruptly, Sparking Community Disappointment

The abrupt closure of a village shop in Derby has elicited strong reactions of shock and dismay from local residents. The announcement regarding the cessation of operations for Darley Abbey Store was made via a notice affixed to the establishment’s door on November 11. Graham Mulholland, the owner, attributed the store’s failure to the “rapidly changing economic environment.” This development has prompted residents to mourn the disappearance of Darley Abbey’s sole convenience store. John Rhodes, aged 77, commented that this change necessitates him walking an additional mile to purchase his newspaper in Chester Green. He stated, “The closure was quite sudden, but there were rumours it might have closed.” He further added, “If you are elderly and don’t have transport to another shop, the closure will hit you severely.” Dave Stone, 71, remarked: “I think it is desperately sad and a shame as community stores are vitally important. Small businesses have suffered at the hands of big supermarkets and online shopping.” Mr. Mulholland, who previously served as chief executive of the Derby engineering company EPM Technology, which entered administration in 2017, indicated that he had observed a reduction in profit margins and an increase in wholesale expenses since acquiring the store in February 2023. He stated, “We were left with a business that was only making £8 of profit an hour.” He continued, “I have to look at my children and say you are not going to university as I have put all my money into this shop.” He also added, “Darley Abbey Store is a small business and it’s dreadful to get to where we have gotten to.” Furthermore, he noted, “Prices have changed with our suppliers and wholesalers since the Budget was announced, I think the Budget was too much too quickly.” In response to these comments, a spokesperson for the Treasury affirmed that the government “had to make difficult choices to fix the foundations of the country.” Mr. Mulholland mentioned that he had faced criticism on social media regarding the method of announcing the store’s closure, specifically using a notice on the door. However, he also expressed a belief that the shop could have benefited from greater support. He commented, “Customers have a choice – they can help me cover those costs instead of going to supermarkets.” This perspective was, however, contested by another resident, Jo Slack, 41. She stated, “My husband came in every day, but it wasn’t fully stocked.” She added, “People are going to supermarkets because stock was not there.” Fiona Flavin, who resides directly across from the establishment, remarked: “I went in to get things I could always get for the past 23 years of living here, but that changed when the shop was taken over.” Ernest Wilson & Co Limited is currently marketing the shop for £200,000. The property listing indicates that the shop has been “owned by our client for nearly two years and in that time they have invested in improving the store with a smart revamp and improving operational efficiencies.” It further states, “They are only selling to concentrate on other business interests.” For updates, follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or through WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.