Asked if she was disappointed to be closing up her 91原创 City shop, Mary Carter frowned, and hesitated.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if that鈥檚 strong enough鈥� she told a 91原创 Advance Times reporter.

Her choice of words 鈥渋sn鈥檛 printable,鈥� Carter explained.

In the windows of Mary鈥檚 British Home store at 20435 Fraser Highway, where the one-way begins, notices advertising a going-out-of-business sale have gone up next to the Union Jack flags.

鈥淓verything must go!! By the end of the month,鈥� one reads.

For nearly 40 years, the 85-year-old Brookswood resident has been selling authentic British food, locally-made fresh pies and a variety of dry and canned goods, sweets and crisps from England out of her store.

Up until about two years ago, the store was located in Richmond鈥檚 Steveston neighbourhood, but Carter grew weary of the commute and decided to switch to a location closer to home.

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It didn鈥檛 work out the way she hoped.

Carter described her two years striving to make a go of it in 91原创 City as 鈥渦nfortunate.鈥�

鈥淭his has been hopeless,鈥� she fumed.

Her new premises were considerably bigger and more expensive, and while loyal clients made the trek to her new 91原创 City premises, it was still a struggle.

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鈥淎 lot of my customers followed, then the economy went sideways,鈥� Carter related.

New owners bought the building where she leased space, which meant new landlords, and the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Carter said her business was already in trouble before the coronavirus forced a temporary shut down of her shop.

鈥淚鈥檝e lost enough money,鈥� Carter commented.

鈥淭his is it.鈥�

She said she was sorry to give up her store, mostly because of the clients.

鈥淚 had a wonderful time and I had wonderful customers, be sure to mention that,鈥� she instructed.

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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