Beloved kitchenware store that closed after 42 years to return on the high street
A POPULAR shop in Llandudno is making a big comeback – just months after it shut down.
The Kitchen Range, a go-to kitchenware in the seaside town, closed in March after 42 years when owner Robin Whitehead decided to retire.
Locals were gutted by the news, calling the closure a 'big loss' to the town.
But now it's coming back – with a fresh new look and a new home just down the road.
The revived store will open at 105 Mostyn Street – the old Sweet Emporium site – on July 2.
It'll be run by Janet Gordon, who managed the original shop for years.
She said: 'I cannot put into words how thrilled I am to be given the opportunity to manage the new Kitchen Range.
"It was, and still is, a unique cook shop, providing our customers with an informative and friendly shopping experience."
The shop was a go-to spot for locals and tourists looking for everything from pots and pans to hard-to-find kitchen gadgets.
Janet added: 'Our customer base has always included locals, professionals and tourists, many of whom have shopped with us for many years."
'We're proud to continue those values, and we'll continue to offer a bespoke ordering service for customers seeking the perfect finishing touch or a hard-to-find kitchen item.'
The original store closed on March 8, with Robin saying it was time to enjoy retirement after decades in the business.
He first opened the shop back in 1983.
Why are so many shops going bust?
The new version of The Kitchen Range will keep its personal touch – but with some modern updates.
It now has a website, social media accounts and email contact to help shoppers stay in the loop.
Janet said: 'We're thrilled to be returning to Llandudno's central high street, surrounded by a vibrant mix of fantastic businesses of all kinds, many of whom we've proudly stood alongside for decades.'
Suppliers are backing the relaunch – and say it's great news for the town.
Michelle Colins, from national supplier Lifetime Brands, said: 'This beloved local business is set to once again become a hub for culinary enthusiasts and a vital part of the community.'
'As the only dedicated kitchenware shop in the area, its return is a fantastic boost for Llandudno, bringing back a space for quality products and trusted advice.'
Locals won't have long to wait – the doors swing open on Tuesday, July 2.
While The Kitchen Range is making a comeback, many other shops across the UK are being forced to call it a day.
Retailers have been hammered by high costs, falling footfall and changing shopping habits.
In Wales, Nibletts Mica in Builth Wells announced it will shut down once current stock runs out.
The owners blamed "falling sales and greatly increased costs" driven by soaring rates and national insurance changes.
Over in Yorkshire, All Types Electrical in Rotherham switched off the lights for the final time on Christmas Eve after more than 50 years in business.
The Closet, a second-hand clothing store in Harker, also shut at the end of last year.
Even bigger names aren't safe.
Shoe Zone has closed more than 20 branches since last May, dropping from 320 shops to just 297.
More closures are expected, with the boss blaming poor consumer confidence and unseasonal weather.
Homebase is also shutting sites, launching closing-down sales at several locations across the UK.
The Centre for Retail Research revealed that 13,479 shops shut down in 2024 alone – a staggering average of 37 closures a day.
Over 11,000 of these were independent stores.
With the cost of living still squeezing shoppers and business bills piling up, many high street traders say they're barely hanging on.
RETAIL PAIN IN 2025
The British Retail Consortium predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce showed that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms also found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025."
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
"By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.
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