Well-wishers, customers and business people from Tipperary town are visiting Wellworths on Main Street this afternoon as it trades for the final day. The store operated by Tony and Maureen Walsh will close after 47 years at 5.30pm today.
The owners are looking forward to retirement and are sad for their wonderful staff who gave decades of loyal service – Bernie and Alice have worked at Wellworths for 45 years, Aileen for 35 and Michelle is considered the baby of the team with just 32 years service in Wellworths.
The store had a visit from Fergal Quinn about 10 years ago and he told management he could not find any fault with their business model – there was nothing to be improved upon!
Tony Walsh says the challenges in running a town centre business include the growth of out of town shopping and parking charges.
The store has an annual rates bill of €6,000 in recent years down from €11,000 in the last review.
The owners are grateful to their loyal customers and say they were a pleasure to deal with over almost 50 years.
The store is renowned for it’s Christmas range of goods and the window displays which were Maureen’s special forte over the years.
The building is owned by another Tipperary resident and it remains to be seen what the future holds for the premises.
It has a long retail history – Woolworths began trading in the location in 1954 and prior to that it was Hogan’s – selling rifles, ammunition and iron work products.
