Durham's only remaining independent shoe shop is to close in the coming months, after ten years of service to the city, unless a buyer is found.
Wigtwo, previously known as Wiggle Room, is set to close after the owner's son fell ill with an arteriovenous malformation, a rare condition that impacts blood flow in the brain.
The business, located in Newton Hall, on Canterbury Road, has been in operation since 2013 and has been the city's only independent shoe shop in recent years - becoming a favourite in the community. In the last decade, Wigtwo has built up a loyal customer base, won awards and even been featured by the BBC.
Despite weathering many challenges, such as the pandemic and economic turbulence, owner Sonja Atkin has made the decision to shut up shop so she can look after her son, who has undergone radiation therapy for his condition.
Read more: bp, SeAH and Tees Valley Lithium among job generators on Teesside
Sonja said: "Life had chosen a different path for us. In late 2021 my son suddenly became ill. It started with me finding him unresponsive one Sunday morning. Many tests later, we discovered he had an AVM - essentially some of the blood vessels in his brain are tangled up, which causes various issues."
Since her son's diagnosis, Sonja has had to reduce the shop's opening hours to accommodate appointments, procedures, tests, treatment, and illnesses.
She said: "This business was never about profits but we all have bills to pay and unfortunately in retail; the less you are open, the less you earn, so operating on heavily reduced hours we've barely been managing to cover business costs. For the last year, the boys and I had to live off our savings and loans.
"I did what I could to keep the shop running; setting up appointments at daft-o'clock or on Sundays, trying to sell the business, building alternative sources of income. But clearly, all this isn't a viable long-term solution."
Sonja will not renew the shop's lease, though she is still hopeful that a buyer for the business will be found, allowing it to continue trading in Durham. From the middle of January, the Wigtwo shop will only be open on Saturdays, although no final day of trading has been announced as of yet.
Read next:
- Schools North East calls for more help for education by government
- Boozy ex-Cleveland Police officer groped two colleagues
- Northern Echo moving home - but staying in Darlington
This closure is a blow to the Durham community, with many loyal customers expressing their sadness at their the shop's imminent closure.
One said: "You'll be a big miss, but family always comes first. Thank you so much for the patience that you have had with my children."
Another said: "Devastated to hear this. Sonja, you've been a lifesaver for the last 10 years."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel