Two well-known local businesses to close

It was announced this afternoon that the owner Moochers Market will not be seeking to renew the lease for the sites beyond next December.

David Cretney will also close the doors of Supercards when its lease expires in December next year.

Mr Cretney, who’s also MHK for Douglas South and Minister for Infrastructure, said it was with great regret he’d come to this decision.

He added that the staff of Moochers have been given 12 months’ notice of it closing and his workers at Supercards almost two years.

However, in the year between the two stores closing there will be a reduction in the current 14 full and part-time staff.

There are also deeper fears for Strand Street, with the UK head offices of the likes of Thomas Cook, Next, Topshop, HMV and Clinton Cards all reporting significant losses over recent months.