THE boss of a family sports shop that has been in Taunton town centre for 35 years has spoken of his sadness as it prepares to close down.
Tony Pryce launched its closing down sale on Saturday, three months before it ceases trading.
The store, in East Street, is no longer viable due to the downturn in high street shopping as more and more customers turn to internet shopping.
Four full-time and three part-time staff will lose their jobs when the store's shutters come down for the final time on April 26.
Managing director Adrian Giblett, son-in-law of the company founder Tony Pryce, who still lives in Taunton, said: "It's a sad day.
"We've had a lot of really good customers.
"But the way the high street is, trying to have a profitable shop with rents and business rates is quite difficult."
Mr Pryce originally set up the business in Minehead, where he opened his first shop in 1978.
He then opened a store in Bridge Street, Taunton, in 1985, later moving to The Bridge and more recently to its current premises in East Street.
The Tony Pryce business was taken over by H. Young Holdings, owners of the Animal brand, in 2011
The company put the 13 Tony Pryce shops across the South West up for sale about four years ago.
After failing to find a buyer, it was decided to close each shop as the leases ran out. Taunton is the last surviving store.
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"Taunton has always been one of our better stores, along with Exeter and Minehead," said Mr Giblett. "But now they're all closed.
"It was historically a profitable shop for us.
"We launched our closing down sale on Saturday and it was pretty busy at the weekend.
"I'd like to thank our many loyal customers in Taunton who helped us build the business up over the years."
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