Arcade's Carousel closes after nearly 50 years
ONE of the longest-standing independent retailers in the Commercial Arcade is closing today after nearly 50 years of trading.
Carousel, which opened in 1974, sold products including souvenirs and jewellery, and moved to also selling bags and luggage.
It has seen a lot of changes in the market since it started, including fashion and buying trends.
Owner Mary Backlund said that she and her late husband had always worked in shops, and as Mr Backlund’s father also owned a shop in town, they decided to go out on their own.
‘We had a lot more visitors in the late 70s and 80s when it was the heyday of people coming here on holiday, we got fewer visitors when the guest houses closed down,’ she said.
‘Coming out of Covid and online shopping changed things, and my husband died before we had to close during the lockdowns. I had a lot of stock which meant I didn’t need to keep buying things. Now I’m 75, I’ve done enough, so I will be spending my time doing my gardening, listening to music and reading.’
Mrs Backlund said that she was known as the ‘bag lady’ or the ‘cat lady’ as often there would be cat in the shop, sleeping on the warm glass counter.
