A POPULAR Ellesmere business is set to close its doors for the last time at the end of the month, as its owner has plans to develop the site.

The building and hardware specialists, J. C. Dyke Supplies, based in Market Street, will cease trading in the town on Friday, September 27 after being in business for 20 years.

However, founder John ‘Colin’ Dyke – who started the company 35 years ago – has confirmed that the company’s Oswestry branch will remain open and that he has plans to possibly develop the site in Ellesmere into apartments or to lease the downstairs as a commercial property with yard.

“We want to develop the site. We’ve been meaning to for a while, it’s something we’ve been looking at for a few years,” said Colin.

“Our core business is in Oswestry and the time just seems right to do the development now and continue our business in Oswestry.

“There’s nine apartments on site, and we’re currently planning to make the vaulted cellar into a small workshop and office spaces.

“We’re unsure about plans for the shop floor at the moment, but decisions will be made in the near future.

“It’s possible we will convert it into two to three more apartments that would blend in with the other apartments we have in the building.

“We know that whatever we do with that, the cellar will still be converted.”

Colin now thinks that his efforts should be put into developing his commercial properties business.

But being a ‘born-and-bred’ Ellesmere man, he said that the decision to close the business in the town was not one he took lightly.

“Being born and raised in Ellesmere, it was a privilege to run the business here,” he added.

“It’s been a very hard decision to make to close it.

“I’d just like to say a big thanks to all of our loyal customers and thanks also goes to staff, past and present.

“We will still be operating the business from our Oswestry store and we hope our customers will continue to support us as they can place orders from their instead and we will still deliver to Ellesmere.

“When the future developments are finished, I hope that it will bring in extra business to the town.”