End of an era as newsagent shuts

With the lease having come to an end a Wilmslow newsagent has closed its doors this weekend.

Chocolate Whirl on Chapel Lane closed on Sunday, 12th February, but the owners will continue with the delivery side of the business from a different address.

The shop has been run by Mark O'Donnell for 9 years but it is understood that a sweet shop has been located at the premises for about 52 years.

Mark told wilmslow.co.uk "The lease had come to an end, the landlord has been great but we couldn't sign a new lease on a shop which depends on the sale of newspapers and sweets."

Mark used to live above the shop with his wife Jenny and they raised their two children on Chapel Lane but two years ago they moved to Lacey Green which meant additional expenses for the family.

Mark explained "The delivery side of the business has got bigger and bigger so we are going to continue delivering newspapers and magazines from a new base in Stanley Green. We'll deliver anywhere along the A34 from Cheadle to Alderley Edge. We also now have a mailbox at Mail Boxes Etc which is handy for local customers.

"In the last 4 years we have probably only seen 10% of our delivery customers, so from a delivery perspective it is a really important move but it is a shame about the shop.

"As a standalone shop though it would never survive, unless we started selling a bigger range of products. We would need to double the trade and we thought about it for 12 months but whatever we started to sell we would be stepping on someone else's toes. The shop would also need a complete refit and with Morrisons opening down the road we cannot compete."

Mark added "We brought our two kids up here, it has been a really good move for us but this is end for the shop as we need to concentrate on the core of the business."

Photo: Jenny, Mark and Victoria.