Harris Hardware in Dereham set to close with ‘heavy hearts’

Harris Hardware, in Market Place, is set to close on August 25 this year.

It comes following the emergence of posters in the windows of the shop, which read: ‘Closing down sale - all stock must go’.

The store, which is owned by couple Damon and Mel Harris, opened in 2018. Mr and Mrs Harris bought out the long-standing business Dereham DIY and Hardware, which closed and was put up for sale after trading in the town for nearly four decades.

Harris Hardware in Dereham is set to close (Image: Adam Barker)

Mr and Mrs Harris announced on the Harris Hardware Facebook page: “With heavy hearts we have put up the closing down posters.

“We will be trading up until August 25.

“Not sure what the future holds but we are weighing up our options.”

The message was followed with the hashtags ‘sad times’, ‘closing down’, and ‘everything must go’.

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Harris Hardware, in Market Place, Dereham (Image: Adam Barker)

Despite the owners’ uncertain future, there was an outpouring of support from the local community in response to their announcement on Facebook.

One user said: “You should be so proud of yourselves for having the guts to go for it, for all you have achieved and for supporting the community through the last few very difficult years. Good luck with whatever you do next.”

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Another reacted to the news by saying: “How very sad, you are the best shop in Dereham. You’ve helped us renovate our house over the past years and we wish you the very best for the future.”

Others added that the store had been “an asset to the town” and “a real help to the community”