A popular independent party and balloon shop in a picturesque UK seaside town is set to close its doors next weekend, dealing another blow to its struggling high street. That’s Amore, located on High Road West in Walton, will shut on Saturday, February 28, with owner Sonia Mayes relocating the business to Stonham Barns Holiday Park near Stowmarket.
Ms Mayes said the move will allow her to focus on the gifts and balloons side of the business as shopping habits continue to shift online. The retailer is currently selling off around £50,000 worth of party stock at cost price, including plates, napkins, banners, tableware and hundreds of balloons, as part of a major clearance ahead of the move.
“Online is just killing shops,” Ms Mayes said, explaining that customers increasingly prefer to shop digitally rather than in person. She added that while she had considered moving fully online herself, the opportunity to relocate to Stonham Barns arose at the right time.
Customers will still be able to place orders via the shop’s Facebook page for now, but Ms Mayes said she valued the “personal touch” that comes with a physical shop – something she believes is hard to replicate online, according to the East Anglian Daily Times.
The decision marks a significant change for the business owner, who has lived in Felixstowe for 53 years and described the town as a big part of her life. “I just needed something new to give me a bit of get up and go,” she said, admitting things had started to feel stagnant.
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Ms Mayes previously opened a second shop in Crescent Road, Felixstowe, in May 2023, but later consolidated all operations into the Walton branch.
Her relocation comes amid wider challenges facing independent retailers and local high streets, as online shopping continues to grow and footfall declines.
Stonham Barns Holiday Park, where the business is relocating, recently appointed administrators following a winding-up petition from HMRC, though the debt was paid in January. The park hosts more than 40 independent retail and leisure outlets, which operate separately from the park’s core business.
The closure of That’s Amore adds to concerns about the future of small independent shops in coastal towns, with residents increasingly worried about the loss of local businesses and community hubs.
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