THE owner of a much-loved Northumberland gift shop has detailed the reasons behind the business's sudden closure.
Following 13 years of trading, Alex Clark in Corbridge, owned and managed by a local artist of the same name, shut its doors for the last time on Saturday (January 24), after announcing the news of its closure the previous week in a social media post that has now garnered over 1,000 likes and 250 comments.
Over the last few decades, Alex, who originally hails from Shotley Bridge, has built a reputation, both locally and nationally, for her trademark quirky depiction of dogs, cats, birds and farm animals on greeting cards, kitchenware, homeware, and accessories.
The artist has confirmed that her online shop, Alex Clark Art Ltd, and the flagship Stanhope shop, Alex Clark Lime Tree Gallery, will remain open.
Although initially remaining vague on the reasoning behind the popular Corbridge shop's closure, attributing it to "many factors", Alex has now confirmed that "it wasn't a financial decision".
"Thirteen years is a long time; leaving is going to take a bit of adjusting, too," she said.
"There were so many factors that actually just seemed to all happen in one go, and it just seemed like it was now or never."
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The shop owner has said that the "uncertainty" of getting a new landlord and the Market Place parking "upheaval", and her desire for her Mum, Christine, to step back from active working duties were all contributing factors.
"My mum, bless her - she looks after the Corbridge business for me - if I go ahead with the new lease, she'll be 82 by the time it finishes," Alex added.
"She thinks she's being thrown on the scrap heap! She thinks I'm trying to retire her. My parents are in their late 70s, and I need them not to work as hard. It's time to spend a bit more time with the family."
Alex says the "hardest thing" was telling her employees, Jackie and Karen, that she was going to close the business.
She said she will be "sad" to leave, and the reaction to the shop's closure has been "lovely" and "really heart-warming".
"Working in Corbridge has been brilliant. The businesses are great; it's unusual in that there are so many independent shops. It's just a really nice community," she said.
"I think it's that community side that we're going to miss the most. The visitors are obviously the icing on the cake, but the support from the locals, who really kept us going, has been incredible."
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