GENERATIONS OF MORAY kids will mourn the passing of a regional landmark after Junners Toymaster closed for good on Saturday.
The final sale goods were despatched following a busy month since the owner sadly announced that Christmas 2015 would be the last for a business that started in Fochabers 116 years ago before later expanding and moving to Elgin.
Owner George Duncan had to admit defeat in the face of out of town superstores and, perhaps more crucially, the rise of online businesses that did not have the overheads of a High Street store to contend with.
Before and after Christmas around half a million pounds worth of stock flew from Junners’ shelves in one last major sale, with discounts of up to 75% enjoyed by shoppers snapping up the final bargains on Saturday.
“We have had many well-wishers through the door since we announced our closure – we have always has very loyal customers,” store manager Eric Beatie said as he prepared for the final rush after 34 years at the store, which until Saturday employed six full and part-time staff members.
Mr Duncan meanwhile admitted that he might have been able to struggle on for a few more years – but decided to close while memories remained good: “It was difficult but we decided this was the time to close things down and get on with our lives. From a business perspective it was the right thing to do.”
Look out for a new weekly series coming soon covering all that is good in the local Moray shopping and business scene.