Sadness as Kenilworth trader closes 'Aladdin's Cave' hardware shop after 53 years in business

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Arthur Harrison is well known on the DIY circuit having run shops in Coventry and Kenilworth



A Coventry entrepreneur who has run hardware shops for more than 50 years is hanging up his overalls for good. Arthur Harrison is well known on the DIY circuit having run stores in his home city of Coventry and more recently in Kenilworth.

He has run Buyrite in Station Road, Kenilworth, since 1991, but says the time is right for a retirement that has been forced upon him, somewhat. "The landlord wants to knock it down for flats and shops underneath," he told CoventryLive.

"They have made up their mind, but I'm okay with that. I feel like it's the right time for me to retire so it's definitely an amicable move.

"I'm 73 now and I want to move on so it's come at the right time for me. I can't say anything bad about the landlord because they have been brilliant to me.

"It will be a sad moment when I close because I really do like the customers. It's a really nice place to have a shop."

The father-of-four expects something of a flurry in trade before he turns his open sign one final time on March 25. "Takings are up now they know I'm going!" he joked.

"I've been really well supported by people in the town. They seem to like me!"

Coventry-based Arthur opened his first shop, Arthur's Foodstore, in Stoney Stanton Road way back in 1969. He moved the business to Hexworthy Avenue in Styvechale before relocating again to leafy Kenilworth 32 years ago. He says the arrival of hardware giant Wilko actually helped rather than hindered his shop's fortunes.

"It's done me a favour," he added. "If they (Wilko) have not got it, people come to me. It's definitely increased footfall.

"People can get everything here and if they can't I always say 'we'll have it in by Monday'."

Arthur's wife Sue, his children and one grandchild will likely be more excited about his retirement than the good people of Kenilworth who have reacted with sadness to news of the shop's impending closure.

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He says the arrival of hardware giant Wilko actually helped rather than hindered his shop's fortunes.

Other traders have told me the same thing and not only for DIY supplies.

One of the best places to open a small food outlet is next to a giant supermarket as they invariably run out of smaller items or couldn't be bothered stocking them in the first place.

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Heartbreak as 'wonderful' Coventry shopkeeper dies weeks after retiring



Devastated family and friends have paid tribute to a popular Coventry shopkeeper and businessman who has died just weeks into his well-deserved retirement. Arthur Harrison, 73, was very well-known on the DIY circuit, having run stores in his home city of Coventry and more recently in Warwickshire.

He opened Arthur's Foodstore in Stoney Stanton Road way back in 1969 before relocating the business to Hexworthy Avenue in Styvechale. But the likeable entrepreneur was perhaps best known in Kenilworth, where he ran hardware store Buyrite from 1991 until the end of April, when he closed the shop to move into retirement.

Arthur's daughter Louise told CoventryLive: "We are devastated. His health deteriorated quickly, he had pneumonia. He worked so hard all his life and had such a short retirement."

Dozens of heartfelt tributes to the father-of-four, who passed away last Friday (4), have been posted on the Kenilworth Vibes Facebook page. Marianne Dawn said: "Such a wonderful man with a heart of gold. A real people person who cheered up everyone he met and always put a smile on our faces. God bless you Arthur."

Sue Auhali described him as a 'local legend' while Clive Owen said 'gone but never forgotten'. Lisa Rathbone remembered 'a lovely gentleman', saying 'thank you for all the laughs over the years'.

"If ever you needed anything, Arthur always had what you wanted," Sandy Bull said. "He was an amazing man and will be missed."

"Sorry to hear he didn't get to enjoy his retirement," Sarah Lambany wrote. "He was a part of Kenilworth." Lisa Jayne Richards described him as 'a true Kenilworth legend'.

Arthur is survived by his wife Sue, brothers Roy and Peter, sister Gwen, children Anita, Louise, David and Christopher, and grandddaughter Grace.

His funeral will be held in Cannon Hill Chapel at Canley Crematorium at 12.45pm on Monday, August 21.