A city centre shop is closing down as a family of long-serving York retailers look to retire.
Wunderplay on Stonegate, which specialises in traditional toys and games, will shut on Tuesday (26 September).
It is to enable the owners, Mike and Evelyne Robertson, to plot their path to retirement.
A note in the window says: “It is with regret that we wish to inform our customers that this shop is closing down.
“The last business day will be Tuesday 26 September.
“We have decided that is it time to retire and closing this shop is the first step towards it. We want to take this opportunity to thank our many loyal customers.
“The balance of the stock will be transferred to our sister shop in Petergate, should anyone wish to visit us. We hope to see you there.”
There’s ten per cent off almost everything in the closing down sale. Then remaining stock will go to their Pandora Gifts and Souvenirs shop on Low Petergate.
Wunderplay was opened in 2020, in what was another branch of Pandora Gifts and Souvenirs.
It was set up as the family had spotted a gap in York’s retail market for good quality and sustainable educational toys.
A joint project between mother and daughter Evelyne and Sabrina, they sourced high quality toys and games which were made sustainably, from planet-friendly materials like wood, natural rubbers and other recycled materials.
Wunderplay was up for sale as a going concern in February.
Mike and Evelyne Robertson have been retailing in York for more than 25 years. Their Pandora shop at 74 Low Petergate is still trading, and it too is up for sale.
They also ran a branch of Pandora on Shambles. But the lease of that shop was transferred to the York team behind the Luxury Ice Cream Co in 2021, opening first as Mrs B’s Emporium of Gifts and then being reimagined as the Fabulously Rich bakehouse and gelato shop earlier this year.
The closure of Wunderplay will leave another empty shop on Stonegate, one of York’s most prestigious shopping streets.
The Cath Kidston store is still empty, despite plans to turn it into a pub reflecting its origins as the family home of Guy Fawkes, called The Fawkes and Tiger.
Kingdom of Sweets is empty after the premises was repossessed by its landlords. And the Vape Safe shop is also vacant.
But the street has also seen new retailers moving in, notably Ramsdens the jewellers and pawnbrokers, which recently opened in the former home of the Yorkshire Terrier pub, and the third branch of luxury jeweller Berry’s, which opened in May.