AN ICONIC Scottish bookshop is set to shut its doors after nearly 150 years in business.

J&G Innes in Fife has announced it will close after nearly 144 years of trading in books, art supplies, gifts and stationery.

The store is in the tourist area of St Andrews, in Fife

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The store is in the tourist area of St Andrews, in FifeCredit: SWNS
Jude Innes, the great-great granddaughter of George Innes who opened the book shop with his brother

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Jude Innes, the great-great granddaughter of George Innes who opened the book shop with his brotherCredit: SWNS

The store’s current owner, Jude Innes, is the great-great granddaughter of George Innes who opened the bookshop with his brother John in 1879.

Innes is now set to retire with the St Andrews store closing too.

Opened in 1879, locals affectionately called it ‘the Citizen shop’ with generations of families in love with its unique wooden and stained glass shop front, reported The Scottish Sun.

The owners said the shop will close for good on New Year’s Eve.

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In a statement, they said: “We would like to thank all our customers past and present for all their support. We couldn’t have lasted for 144 years without you!

“We wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Healthy New Year 2024.”

The managing editor of Scottish publisher DC Thomson Graham Huband wrote: “Very sad to see this St Andrews icon preparing to shut its doors. Independent bookshop and stationer is no easy gig these days.”

Fans expressed their shock and sadness on social media.

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“That’s really sad, I spent hours in there as a kid,” one said.

Another said: “My nine-year-old son is devastated, going into that shop is like going to Disneyland for him.”

A third added: “Such a shame, always pay a visit when I visit StA. Lovely selection of cards, books and gifts.

“Another bit of heritage bites the dust.”

Many high street retailers have been struggling to get buy over the past few years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.

This has left some retailers grappling with budgets and have no choice but to close stores to cut costs.

Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand

Next Home is set to pull down the shutters on its branch at the Crescent Link Retail Park in DerryNorthern Ireland, next year.

Jack Wills in Worcester announced it will be closing down for good this new year.

Co-op‘s College Green store in Bristol will be closing its doors for the final time on December 9.

It’s not just shops either, pubs and restaurants have been affected too.

Punters have been left gutted and reminiscing over their last pint as another Wetherspoons pub closed this weekend.

Franco Manca, which has 70 branches, is to close its original site after 15 years.

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Meanwhile, here is every shop closing down in December including Poundland and New Look.

Plus, a high street giant is pulling down the shutters on another branch in what has been described as a “huge blow” to the area.

The store is known as 'The Citizen Shop' among locals

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The store is known as ‘The Citizen Shop’ among localsCredit: Alamy
Innes is retiring and sadly the store will go with her too

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Innes is retiring and sadly the store will go with her tooCredit: SWNS

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk

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