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A Bargoed jewellery shop is closing after running for more than 120 years.
Gus Jones Jewellers, on Hanbury Road, closes its doors on Saturday March 9, having first opened in 1903.
Managing director of Gus Jones Jewellers, Michael Jones, told Caerphilly Observer he was “disappointed that we’ve come to this”.
He said: “It was a very good business until the year 2000. That was when it got more difficult.”
Mr Jones, 81, continued: “The only reason we’re closing is because it’s not viable.
“If you go to the high street in Bargoed it’s just deserted most of the time.”
“Sentimental”
Gus Jones has other outlets in Blackwood, Ebbw Vale and Abergavenny.
Mr Jones said that these shops were “thriving”, adding that the income was enough to cover rising costs including energy bills.
Despite the Bargoed shop struggling for a few years, the company ‘backpedalled’ on the decision to close it as it held sentimental value, according to Mr Jones.
He said: “It was my grandfather’s shop and it was sentimental,” adding that it was the first-ever shop opened by the company in 1903.
There are no plans to mark the closure.
Caerphilly County Borough Council recently unveiled its plan to tackle empty shops in Bargoed.
A ‘Meanwhile Space’, which is similar to a pop-up, is set to come to the town.
The council hopes this will encourage other businesses and bring a bit of “vitality” to the High Street.
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