The tight-knit community of Carrick is set to lose one of its beloved local businesses as the owners of Dohertys XL have announced their decision to close the store after eight years of operation.
The supermarket, a staple in the town, will be shutting its doors for the final time on Friday, August 30th.
Owners Andrea and Dermot Doherty expressed the difficulty of their decision, citing the challenges small businesses face in today’s economic climate.
In a heartfelt message to their patrons posted on social media, the Dohertys reflected on their time running the supermarket: “And just like that our time at Dohertys XL is nearing at end. After 8 years we will be closing the doors on Fri the 30th of August at 6pm.”
They added: “Hasn’t been an easy decision but ultimately the high rising costs of running a small business in a small town is very hard. We can’t compete with the bigger stores and the delivery vans in the area multiple times a week.”
The couple also took the opportunity to express their gratitude to both their customers and their staff, stating: “We would like to thank all our customers over the past 8 years. A special thanks to the 20 plus staff we had the pleasure of employing over the years. Many a laugh we had and a book or 2 we could write.”
In their farewell post, Andrea and Dermot invited the community to visit the store one last time before it closes its doors, sharing a poignant video of “The Shop” by Seamus O’Rourke.
The news of the closure was met with an outpouring of support from customers, who expressed their sadness and offered best wishes for the Dohertys’ future.
One person commented: “Sad to see a business close locally…best of luck to you Andrea, Dermot and all the lovely friendly staff in your future.”
Another added: “When one door closes another one opens…no doubt you have exciting times ahead. Good luck for your next venture.”
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