Poole independent shop closes its doors permanently

The Market Gallery, which is tucked behind the shopping centre, closed suddenly on Wednesday.

The shop left a note on its doors reading ‘It is with great sadness The Market Gallery/Bitznfix is now permanently closed’.

One shopper at the Dolphin Centre, Mary Harney, said she was planning to visit the shop when she discovered the note on the door.

“It’s quite a shock,” she said.

“I don’t come into Poole a lot, when I do come in, I do get a few cards in there. I got quite a bit in there over Christmas.”

Another shopper at the Dolphin Centre said it was sad to see the shop close.

The shop nearly closed in 2018, when its previous owners, Mike and Shirley Bainger, decided to retire, but they passed the ownership of the shop onto Chris Fowler.

Mr Fowler took over the shop in 2019, but was forced to close the shop due to escalating costs.

He explained the reasons behind the closure in a comment on Facebook, under a post in which the poster said she arrived to visit the shop, only to find it closed.

Mr Fowler said: “Electric costing too much. Not selling enough to make ends meet. Rent super high.

“No choice really. Was a shame. Owned it for four years. We tried our best.”

Other commenters expressed their shock and sadness at the closing of the popular shop.

John Grinnell, the centre manager at the Dolphin Centre, said: “The entire Dolphin Centre team is saddened that The Market Gallery closed its doors on Wednesday 18th January 2023.

“I know it would have been a tremendously difficult decision to close, given the longstanding history of the store and the affection in which it is held by the people of Poole. My heart goes out to the owner Chris and his family, and the rest of the team. We wish them all the very best for the future.”