But that will not mean the disappearance of the name, with Pitstop Tyres, behind the shop, continuing to provide some of the items from the hardware store under the name Bougourd & Harry Stores.
Bougourd & Harry director Alan Bougourd, grandson of the founder, joined the family firm in 1995 but felt that now was the time for a change.
‘It’s still profitable, it’s just reached the point where I want to step down,’ he said.
The Vale Avenue shop will become home to Lotus Pools, which will be a step up for Andy Colver and his wife, who have been operating the business from their home and a store at L’Islet.
‘It will be great to have everything in one place,’ he said.
A 10-strong team, it has built bespoke swimming pools since 2018 and last year started selling hot tubs. Mr Colver said the business was now going to be able to have a showroom for its hot tubs and it also intends to rent saunas, in addition to its existing business. He hoped that the new showroom would be open by the end of the year.
While the Pitstop tyre site around the back of the store will remain where it has been since 2015, owner Chris Le Carpentier said it would start selling some of the same lines as the shop, as well as continue to provide tyres and servicing.
Also remaining on the site will be BOC Gases, which provides bottled gas for welding and other industrial purposes, including medical.
The business started life as a blacksmiths run by Jack Bougourd and his friend Joe Harry. The original building stood until 1968 when it was replaced with the current premises and a new workshop was built at the back of the site.
Jack’s son John eventually took over at the same time as Mr Harry retired and bought him out, with the two Bougourds running the business until Jack’s retirement. The business developed during the boom of the island’s growing industry and got involved in installing windmills and pumps as well as putting up steel frame buildings and pretty much anything made of metal.
A store behind the main building was established to sell materials to tradesmen but over time it started selling to the public, too, and as the growing industry declined, the stores and the shop were developed, eventually becoming what it is today.
Alan Bougourd said he was ‘very comfortable’ knowing that the business was in good hands and he was pleased that two of his staff would be staying on and working for Pitstop.
‘Inevitably, after being so involved with Bougourd & Harry for so long there will be a lump in my throat on the last day, and I know I will miss it, but mostly I will miss the people,’ he said.
‘We have some great customers and we have been so, so lucky to have so many wonderful staff, and I would like to say a huge thank you to our current team who are an absolute privilege to work with. I can’t thank them enough and I will miss them all.’