Penrith town centre is no stranger to shops closing and the growing number of empty retail spaces in the town with the loss of valued local businesses. Now, one of the area’s rural communities is facing the same challenge, as the owners of Shap Village Store and Post Office have announced they will close its doors on 23rd December 2025.
The owners have confirmed that the business will cease trading, and the property will be put on the market. They explained that, despite an increase in customer numbers, sales had not grown as expected.
“This is due to a combination of not being able to hold currency, not allowing us to become an Amazon hub,” they said.
Online marketplaces and changing postal services have also affected trade.
“eBay and Vinted online marketplaces that have a QR code system for returns remove the need for stamps. Royal Mail also offer better rates online, therefore also using the QR code system to allow us to print the label for the customer, which also takes the sale away from us, not to mention the price increases we have seen in the last year.”
After reviewing the figures, the family concluded that continuing was no longer sustainable.
“With this in mind, together with recent events, we as a family have also decided to close the shop. We will be putting the property on the market hopefully to give the right people an opportunity to work their magic!!”
They added:
“I would like to thank everyone for supporting me on this journey, I have learned so much about business (never again) but also myself! Onto the next Chapter.”
The closure reflects the wider pressures facing independent retailers across Penrith and the local villages around the town. In the next few months another long-standing local businesses that has served the town for decades will close with staff having been notified of the closure recently and given three months notice, a national retailer has also signalled its intention to close its Penrith store before the end of the year.
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