The owner of a reclamation yard has spoken of his heartbreak after announcing the it will close its doors next month after 58 years in business.
Simon Gillings said he had made the difficult decision to close Gillings of Diss in Mission Road, on February 28, after online rivals had made the business unviable.
Mr Gillings’ grandfather, William, started the venture more than five decades ago, before it passed to his father, Peter, who died in 2018.
“I had been living in Florida for 30 years and was a regional sales manager for a company when dad died,” said Mr Gillings.
“But I had been born and raised in the yard, so I decided to come back and run it as the third generation of my family.
“I returned in February 2020, a few weeks before lockdown. It survived the pandemic and I tried to diversify the business where I could, but last year it hit a real low.
“I came to the decision towards November to close permanently, and I even shut the yard through the whole of December. People just do not shop like this anymore.”
The Gillings family, who are a household name in the town, owned a shop in St Nicholas Street called Quartermaster’s Stores, as well as a tool shop and car parts shop during their time in business.
“A lot of people are saying it is a shame, obviously, and some are actually apologising that they did not come in more frequently to keep it going,” said the 53-year-old.
“We are a local business and a name everyone knows in Diss, but I found myself putting money into it just to keep the wolf from the door. Unfortunately, it was not enough to save it.”
The family has had a long association with the town, with Mr Gillings continuing a tradition started by his father of playing a central role in the town carnival each year – something he will miss.
“To think we will not be doing that this year is hard,” he told the Diss Express. “I have so many memories connected to this yard and it will be heartbreaking when it goes.”
Mr Gillings said he wanted to thank the community for its support over the three generations his family had been in business.
“I’d like to send a big thank you our loyal customers,” he said. “It has been nice over the years to hear stories from people who knew my grandad and father. Thanks for the good time, the memories and the chats.
“It is a shame, but I see this place as being like an old race horse; it has had a good run and now it is time to put it out to pasture.”
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