A shopkeeper is preparing to wrap up her business and blames “dire footfall” in the town for the store’s demise after 155 years.

Shaheen Hussain has run The Stationery Shop in Preston Street, Faversham for 15 years, and a business of the same type has existed on the site since 1864.

But she has decided to close it down because it is no longer viable.

“There has been a real downturn in trade, and footfall in the town is dire,” she said.

“We sell stationery and art materials. We tried adding to our offer with things like a Western Union money transfer service and parcel collection but it hasn’t worked.”

Mrs Hussain says the business has also suffered due to competition from the town’s supermarkets and internet shopping and the cost of parking in the town.

“It is just getting harder and harder to keep going, even though I own the building. The flats above have effectively been subsidising the shop,” she said.

“I did try to sell it as a going concern to someone who might bring some fresh ideas, but no one was interested because the figures were just not good enough.”

The distinctive mock Tudor shop will not remain empty because the retail unit is being taken over by the Gridlock shoe shop in the town, which needs to relocate to bigger accommodation.

Mrs Hussain says she will be sad to leave and miss the loyal customers who did support the shop.

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