Kam & Co, a family-run shop in Basildon's Eastgate Shopping Centre, will close for good at the end of this month after trading for 41 years. The store, which has served the community since 1985, stocked martial arts clothing and accessories, Asian foods and furniture.
In a statement, the owners described lasting so long as "such an achievement." A closing-down celebration has been scheduled for October 24.
Family business says goodbye
A spokesperson from the shop said: "After 41 years we are closing our beloved shop Kam & Co here in Eastgate."
"My mum and dad, aka Rose and Kam, opened this shop in 1985 when Eastgate first opened and have been here ever since selling martial arts goods and Asian groceries to the community."
"We've watched our loyal customers grow as we grew and made so many friends along the way and now, sadly, it's our turn to leave as running a business certainly gets harder as you get older."
They added: "It is such an achievement that we have survived so long and is a testament to our customers and how important in-person retail shopping is to the community."
Customers share fond memories
Customers reacted with heartfelt messages of support and sadness. One person wrote: "I have bought some amazing things from you over the years, sorry to see you go."
Another said: "It was my first connection with Chinese culture back in the '80s when I was a kid, and still in love!"
A third commented: "Be so sad to see you go. My boys loved your store (they are 47 & 48 now) and the time you took talking to them as children and advising them. Thank you. Wishing you, your wife and family all the very best for the future."
Wider retail struggles continue
Kam & Co is not the only retailer to announce closure recently. Typo, the Australian stationery and gifting brand owned by Cotton On Group, has confirmed it will close its remaining UK stores, with its UK online operation set to cease trading by early 2027. The chain currently has around 13 stores left in the UK following a string of closures in recent months.
The shutdowns will be carried out in stages, with one of the chain's North East outlets at Newcastle's Eldon Square having already closed its doors on Friday, October 9.
