COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Salts will be closing on Saturday, March 29



A long-established Coventry shop with a historic legacy in the city will soon be closing for good. Salts, which is based on New Union Street, was established more than 100 years ago in 1916.

Founded by Harry Salt, Salts opened on Parkside, Coventry, in 1916 and moved to New Union Street in 1961. It specialises in tobacco and was run by the Salt family before being taken over by Mark Kendall in 2019.

Mark, from Coventry, has helmed Salts for more than five years and said he was 'really sad' to be closing on March 29. He said he took the decision begrudgingly based on a variety of factors, including a drop in trade since COVID.

Speaking to CoventryLive, Mark, 49, said: “Footfall never came back after COVID, and being in retail is not as nice as it used to be because there are the issues of break-ins and theft and all those things that happen in city centres to retailers.”

Mark said they have also had to contend with the illegal tobacco trade in the city, which he says has become 'rife.' He said: “Coventry is rife with illegal stuff so the people selling it legally cannot compete.”

Although it is 'really sad' to be closing, Mark said he has 'loved' his five years at Salts. He said: “I have loved it! I always wanted to run a shop, so I have really enjoyed it.”

Customers have recently been reminiscing about 'fond memories' of visiting Salts. Many have touchingly recalled going to the city centre with their grandparents many years ago, Mark said.

He explained: “It is quite generational, so a lot of people have fond memories of relatives, they used to come here as children with their grandparents, so obviously it holds a lot of sentimental... and a lot of granddaughters and grandsons just remembering when times were more simple, and you remember stuff about your childhood and your now-departed relatives, so a lot of moments for people.”

Mark thanked the people who have supported Salts over the years and said they would be sorely missed. He said: “We have had a blast! Thanks for all of the support that we have had from our regulars, they will be missed.”