A POWYS couple who enjoyed their “busiest time ever” during lockdown, are now looking forward to retirement, after announcing they will leave the garden centre they have run for almost a decade.
Kate and Brian Popsys have run Brecon Pet & Garden Centre Ltd in the centre of the Powys town for nine years, while it is believed the shop itself has operated as a garden and pet shop for more than 60 years.
As the pet side of the business runs alongside it, Kate said it acted as a vital hub for local people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, since life returned to relative normality, Kate said many customers have not returned, and that helped them to their decision.
“Sadly, no-one has come forward to buy our business, so we'll be closing the doors on September 30,” the shop announced on its Facebook page on Tuesday.
Speaking to the County Times, Kate said: “The shop has been on the market for over two years now, but no takers. Brian and I are retiring while we're still young enough to enjoy ourselves.
“Brian and I have given it our best shot to sell it, so we now want to kick-start our next adventure.”
She added: “During lockdown, we were at our busiest. In lockdown we were the only garden centre that could open (in Powys), as we were also a pet shop.
“We would be all over Brecon, delivering items. It was our busiest time ever, the whole area was gardening and we supplied demand, but where are they now?
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“Around 90 per cent of the people who shopped here, we now don’t see.”
Kate went on: “The closure of our shop is sad news for Brecon. The shop will really be a big miss on the High Street."
The sad news was lamented by locals as more bad news for the town.
One said: “Various reasons why our high streets deteriorate but poor decisions by local authorities and internet shopping tends to be high on that list.
“In this case that is true. I just hope councillors wake up before they totally destroy Brecon High Street."
Brecon Pet & Garden Centre is at No 53 High Street,.
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