A family-run shop is to close next month after more than 20 years of trading.
York Hire Wear on Lendal will shut for good on September 30.
It specialises in the hire of men’s formal wear including wedding suits, evening wear, highland wear and lounge suits.
Ginny Driver, who owns York Hire Wear, said their lease was at an end and they didn’t want to sign up for another term.
“Rent, rates and costs are very high and with the changes to the city centre – independents closing, locals staying away from the centre – we feel York is changing.”
Staff plans
The shop is a family-run independent business. Ginny took over from the previous owner 20 years ago.
There are two staff in winter and up to five during the summer months. The end of the lease “also coincided with all the staff members plans for the future, wanting to retire, imminent motherhood, career changes etc,” Ginny said.
“So lots of reasons all coming together to make this decision.”
In the meantime, dinner suits and waistcoats are selling well in the shop’s closing down sale.
The closure of York Hire Wear comes less than a month after Burgins Perfumery on the corner of St Helen’s Square and Coney Street closed down after 137 years.
Owner Hanus Wolf told YorkMix that he felt the city was being overrun by bars and restaurants and there was not enough support for retailers.