God. I actually got a bit choked up writing this one. My dad bought his first proper suit from M Black & Sons back in the 80s. Said the owner spent an hour getting the measurements just right, even though Dad only had about £60 to his name at the time.
Another local institution bites teh dust.
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The Final Countdown
M Black & Sons—that menswear shop on Widemarsh Street that's been dressing Hereford men since 1949—just announced they're shutting up for good at the end of 2025. Retirement and end of lease, apparently. But still... ouch.
I walked past there yesterday. Window display still immaculate as always. Wondered how many first dates, job interviews, and weddings their clothes have been part of over 75+ years.
Locals are properly devastated. My Facebook feed exploded with people sharing memories—one bloke said it's where he bought his first pair of jeans in 1973. Another woman posted about how they helped her find a last-minute outfit for her son's graduation when nowhere else had his size. "End of an era" is the phrase everyone keeps using.
Wait... THREE shops closing?!
Turns out M Black isn't the only Hereford casualty. Crosskeys on Gomond Street already closed on March 8th. Their goodbye post was heartbreaking—they'll still sell online "while stocks last" but the physical shop is gone.
BookMasters UK in the Butter Market is packing up too. I literally spent £17 there last Tuesday on a hardback biography. Should've bought more.
They're practically giving stock away now—50p for ANY book, even hardbacks! I'm heading there tomorrow to grab what I can. My bookshelves are already overflowing but... come on. This is an emergency book rescue mission.
The Brutal Truth About Our High Streets
I interviewed a local economist last year who predicted we'd lose at least five independent retailers in 2025. I remember laughing it off.
Not laughing now.
These shops aren't just businesses—they're where people's memories live. I bought my wedding tie at M Black's in 2018. Cost me £45 which felt extravagant at the time, but the owner (Mark Jr, I think?) spent ages helping me match it perfectly to our color scheme. Try getting that kind of service online.
The Domino Effect
It's not just Hereford suffering. Beales—that department store that's somehow survived since Victorian times—is closing its final branch in Poole by May 31st. They're doing one of those depressing "everything must go" sales with 70% off. (My sister-in-law drove 40 minutes to grab some discounted kitchenware. Her text afterward: "Like shopping at a funeral.")
New Look is apparently shutting about a quarter of its 364 shops. That's nearly 100 stores! The Budget changes were apparently the final nail. I feel for the staff—my niece worked at New Look during uni adn said it was actually a decent place to work.
Huttons in London—that quirky gift shop in Putney—is also closing. Energy costs killed them. Remember when we all thought £2K annual energy bills were scandalous? Those were the days...
What the hell happens next?
I walked through town center yesterday counting empty shopfronts. Got to eleven before I gave up because it was too depressing. What will replace these places? More vape shops? Charity shops? Or just empty windows with "To Let" signs that never come down?
Listen. I'm not usually nostalgic about this stuff. Change happens. But there's something deeply unsettling about watching the places that shaped your town's identity disappear one by one.
When M Black finally closes, I'm going to buy something. Anything. Just to have that receipt as a reminder of what shopping used to be like when people knew your name and remembered what size collar you wore.
Maybe I'll frame it next to my dad's old receipt from 1986.
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