Kam & Co, a family-run shop at Eastgate Shopping Centre in Basildon, will close its doors for good at the end of October after more than four decades in business. The store, which has served customers since 1985, offered martial arts clothing and accessories, oriental foods and furniture.
A family business since 1985
In a statement, the owners said it was 'such an achievement' to have survived for so long. 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."
Closing-down celebration planned
The shop is set to close at the end of this month, with a closing-down celebration taking place on October 24. The owners 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."
Fans of the shop shared their reactions in comments, with one person writing: "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!"
Part of a wider retail trend
The closure is not an isolated case. This week, Typo, the Australian stationery and gifting brand owned by Cotton On Group, confirmed it will shut its remaining UK stores, with its UK online business set to disappear by early 2027. The retailer currently has around 13 stores remaining in the UK, with closures taking place in phases. One of the chain's North East stores at Newcastle's Eldon Square already shut its doors on Friday, October 9.
