YESTERDAY marked the end of an era as Barsby’s department store closed after 106 years of trading in Kempsey.
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The shop has a rich history in the area and has built up a loyal customer base in the time it has been operational.
It’s closure comes after the shareholders decided to put the building on the market in October following a period of reduced trading and profitability.
Overseeing the closure is accountant Graham Brown from GPB Partners.
He said that while the closure was sad for staff and customers, as well as the Barsby family, all is not lost for the iconic store.
“It is not all doom and gloom,” he said.
“We are in talks with potential buyers so there is a chance someone will take the chance to open up a new store. "Right now we just make sure that the staff are paid out their full entitlements and make it as painless as possible for everyone involved.
"The staff have been really positive so far which is fantastic.”
There is no shortage of experience among the workers with the staff sharing a combined total of more than 150 years at the store.
Almost a third of that comes from Joan Fitzgerald, who began working at Barsby’s the year after she finished high school.
Having now spent about 50 years in her position, she is still coming to terms with the firm's uncertain future.
“I think it will only really sink in when I wake up in the morning tomorrow and realise I don’t have to go to work,” she said.
“It’s not a good feeling when you have worked here for so long.
"I’ll miss the company of the customers and my work mates.
"It’s not good for the town to have a store like this closing so hopefully someone will come along and buy it.”
The customers were also putting on brave faces yesterday as they made their final purchases.
Dianne Latham has been making wedding dresses using material bought from Barsby’s for the past 40 years.
She said it would be difficult to find another store to service her specific needs.
“I think this puts the whole town in limbo,” she said.
“I did have a feeling that things were not going well for the store but you never expect it to come to this.
"I used to come in here every day and sometimes even more than once.
"I want to keep shopping in Kempsey but I am not sure what options are available now.”
A clearance auction for the remainder of Barsby’s stock will be held in January.
