It was a bitter sweet day for staff at Gamleys toy shop in Maidstone on Friday.

The team at the store in The Mall Chequers traded for the last time officially under the name Gamleys. When it reopens on Saturday it will be The Entertainer, which bought the store last week, although the name Gamleys will remain on the shopfront for the time being.

The final day’s trading saw mostly empty shelves, as a half price sale had brought customers flocking through the week, many commiserating with staff about the loss of the name Gamleys.

Flo Owen, 60, who started work as a Christmas temp at the shop in October 1988, and has been there ever since, said: “It is sad. I think I might well cry; if I drank I would go home and have a stiff drink tonight, although I think it may be Horlicks for me.

“There is nothing like the old Gamleys.”

She added: “I just hope that it is going to be the same as The Entertainer. It is good that everyone is keeping their jobs.”

Branch manager David Pickett, who wore his old Gamleys tie – complete with teddy bear logo – for the day, said: “It is the end of an era, and a happy era at that. A lot of our customers have been talking about their memories of Gamleys.”

Do you have happy memories of Gamleys? Did you buy your children's Christmas and birthday presents there? Share your memories with us by emailing them to messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to Kent Messenger, 6&7 Middle Row, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1TG