Looking back: The County Stores in Taunton

The County Stores, in North Street, Taunton, announced it was closing in October 2018 and stopped trading in January 2019.

Announcing the previous proposed closure, James Duder told the County Gazette: “Over the past few years, the high street retail environment has become very challenging, with lots of retailers struggling in the current retail climate.

“The situation has been no different at The County Stores and in recent months it has become apparent that, despite all our efforts, The County Stores cannot continue to trade with its current structure and size.”

The day County Stores closed:

The County Stores, in North Street, is finally pulling down the shutters for good at the end of trading on Saturday.

The shop, which has a food hall and sells groceries and gifts in its three-storey premises, is the latest victim of the high street crisis.

It has been run by five generations of the Duder family since 1832 and has also housed Taunton Post Office since January 2014, when the latter relocated from the nearby building now occupied by Ask restaurant.

The post office is set to remain in the premises until March 29.

The County Gazette exclusively revealed last month that the directors of the business are currently in talks with a Taunton man over the sale of the building.

The building could fetch around £1 million.

At the time, James Duder, one of the directors, said the potential buyer hopes to gain planning permission for a car museum on the ground floor, with a cafe at the front and motorcycles upstairs.

The County Stores staff were given redundancy notices in October 2018.