Five beloved shops in Black Country and Staffordshire customers said farewell to in 2024

Whether as a result of rising costs or simply to enjoy retirement, there are various reasons why owners have decided to shut up shop.

As the New Year begins, we have decided to take a look back on the stores which sadly left our high streets in 2024.

Dancers 

Family-run clothing store Dancers, on Peckingham Street, Halesowen, closed on December 11.

On their final day of trading, staff bid an emotional farewell to customers after 144 years of business.

The site is however not expected to stay empty for long, with a new school-uniform shop set to open there this month.

In October, assistant manager Dave Dancer told the Express & Star he had hoped to take over the reins from his father Mike Dancer and aunt Janet Duerden - but tough retail conditions meant this would not be possible.

The business passed through five generations of the Dancer family after it was founded as John Dancer's shoe and bootmaker in 1880, part of a row of shops in Lye High Street owned by the Dancer family.

Four years later, John and his wife Sarah moved to a lock-up shop in High Street, Halesowen, and went on to purchase a plot of land on the corner of Peckingham Street and Hagley Road, Halesowen, where they built a three-storey shop.

Branches in Ludlow, Kidderminster, Cradley Heath, Bromsgrove and Tenbury Wells then followed. 

The business passed first to John's son Wilfred, and then through his son Wesley, and as the years progressed, it began to transition away from boots and towards the sale of both men's and women's clothing.

In the 1950s, Wesley spotted a gap in the market for men's suit hire, and Dancer's became one of the first shops in the country to offer the service.

During the late 1960s, Halesowen was undergoing major redevelopment, and Wesley moved to a temporary shop at the top of Peckingham Street, while the old shop was demolished and a new one built in its place, opening on May 1, 1968.

Heavenly Produce

Heavenly Produce, which sold fresh produce and other goods, was located in Unit 3 in the Victorian Arcade, Walsall.

The shop ceased trading after 23 years in June, with rising costs and the 'degeneration' of Walsall town centre among the reasons why.

Speaking to the Express & Star in June, director Tracey Horton thanked her customers for the "good times" and support over the years.

Pauls

Pauls in Fordhouses, Wolverhampton, had been serving the community for 41 years.

Known by locals as Mr and Mrs Paul, Gurdas Ram and his and wife Meeto Kaur became the owners of Pauls, on Harrowby Road, Fordhouses, in 1983 after taking advice from his two sisters to get into the 'shop business'.

The pair made the emotional decision to sell the shop and served their last customer on September 5, saying they would miss the community "really badly".

Ettingshall Off Licence

Ettingshall Off Licence in Ettingshall, Wolverhampton, closed at the start of September when shop owner Gulzari Ram made the decision to retire.

On advice from a friend, Mr Ram had bought the store 35 years ago which he said was a "dream come true".

He ran the shop with the help of his wife Nachhatro Kaur and their five children.

Mr Ram celebrated his retirement with a surprise party hosted by his Kamlesh on August 24 attended by friends, family and loyal customers.

Beardsmore Lighting

Lighting shop Beardsmore Lighting, based on the corner of Church Street and Mill Street in Cannock, closed in March.

Posting to Facebook, staff announced the closure of the business, which was set up 39 years ago, with a "heavy heart" as they bid farewell to their "wonderful" customers.

13,000 high street shops shut

More than 13,000 high street stores closed in the UK in 2024, new figures by the Centre for Retail Research have shown.

The total closures jumped by more than a quarter last year than on the previous year.

The provisional data showed that the vast majority of closures were small independent retailers, while 2,138 stores were shut by larger chains over the year.

Major chains including Ted Baker, Homebase and Carpetright shut stores after entering insolvency during the year.

Carpetright stores in Wolverhampton, Cannock, Wednesbury and Oldbury were among those to close.

The Body Shop announced earlier in the year it had entered administration, which saw stores in Wolverhampton and Lichfield shut.

Retailers including Boots and Shoe Zone cut their store numbers during the year. In December, Shoe Zone announced it was expected to close 20 more of its shops, with stores in Cannock, Wolverhampton, Dudley and West Bromwich at risk.