A popular town centre store in Wiltshire has announced it will close after more than 15 years.
In a blow for Devizes town centre, Mainlys of Devizes has announced that it will shut its doors in either May or June.
The hardware business has been a staple of Maryport Street for more than 15 years and was started decades ago by Colin and Clare Henrich.
Last year, the pair told this paper that they would be retiring and leaving the business at the end of their lease in June 2026.
They had hoped that the shop could be saved by a new owner, and a search was launched nearly a year ago to try and find a buyer to take on the business.
In a public statement, the Mainlys team has confirmed that this has not happened, and the store now looks destined to close for good.
A spokesperson said: “We have some bad news and some good news.
“The bad news is we will be closing the shop in May/June time, we have unfortunately not been able to find a viable buyer.
“The good news is we have bargains galore available in store, many items are half price already.
“We will still be stocking your favourite items, so no need to panic yet. So please continue to support us and pop in for the bargains, when they are gone, they are gone.”
Mr Henrich had previously told this paper that he was hopeful somebody could be found to keep an important asset in the town open.
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Last year, he said: “Ideally, we’d like somebody in a few months before the end of the lease, I’d be quite happy to stay on as an employee for a few months to get them up and running.
“They’d have a ready-made business which we could only have dreamt of… it would be a shame if it closed because I think it’s an asset to Devizes.
“People rely on us for certain products so if it went empty, I don’t know where they’d go, if they shop online the footfall on the High Street would drop and impact other shops.
“We’re always busy and it’s different to other shops you get in town, so it would be brilliant if someone keeps it going.”
Mainlys currently stocks over 8,000 different lines and has been built up from scratch, previously trading on markets including The Shambles.
Its Trowbridge store closed in 2023 when the Henrichs began downsizing ahead of plans to retire.
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