| |
Chris Greenaway with a mannequin wearing a uniform and army buttons. |
Fighting a losing battle: army store forced to retreat
After 40 years selling military antiques, Marylebone’s last one-man business faces closure
FEATHER topped cavalry helmets, menacing swords, gas masks from the trenches of the First World War – nearly 500 years of war history open up behind the doors of Blunderbuss Antiques.
But the last one-man business in Marylebone has lost its own battle to stay open, shot down by rising rents and internet rivals.
Owner Chris Greenaway, 53, has worked at the military antiques shop since his father opened it in Thayer Street in 1968.
He said the area around Marylebone High Street had simply got too expensive for everyone apart from designer shoe shops and familiar coffee chains.
Mr Greenaway told the West End Extra: “I understand landlords wanting to get what they can but my rent has doubled – it’s gone up from £20,000 to £40,000 a year. This area has become ridiculously expensive.”
He said on Tuesday that the quirky shop, where customers browse everything from an army button for just £1 to a £7,500 helmet from the Crimean War, would be forced to shut it doors.
The estate agent boards looking for a buyer have already gone up.
Mr Greenaway said: “There’s nothing like people coming in through that door – but soon I will have to rely more on my online sales.”
He is also planning to re-open his shop but somewhere outside of London.
The shop keeper is well aware that the latte and panini-gobbling crowd in office gear are not interested in popping in to pick up some historic armoury. But for his customers, the shop has been a real treasure trove for the last 40 years.
Richard Mainwood, a keen armoury collector, travelled this week from Romford, Essex, to purchase a British infantry sword from the 18th century.
He said: “Of course I surf the internet to find items. But that’s so impersonal. It’s a great shame this shop is closing because it’s nice to be able to chat about what you buy.”
Mr Greenaway said: “I remember there used to be a butcher, several greengrocers, an art shop and a stationer on this street.
“All the little shops added character and diversity to the area.”
Now the last man standing is forced to leave what was once his prime location.
Mr Greenaway is not sure when the Blunderbuss shop will see its final day or where he will relocate to, but he has a pretty clear idea of who is going to take his place on 29 Thayer Street.
“Probably another one of those shoe shops,” he says. “Or some generic coffee place.”
www.blunderbuss-antiques.co.uk |
 |
|
| |
| |
