The owner of a hardware store in Mitcham will shut up shop for good after it was opened by his grandfather in 1939.

F Strowger in Upper Green East, which has been a feature of the town centre for more than 80 years, will close on April 30.

The shop was opened by Frank Strowger and was originally based around the corner in London Road.

It is now run by the founder’s grandson Ken Richards.

Fifty three years after starting work in the hardware shop when he was just 16, the 69-year-old thinks it’s now time to retire.

In more than 50 years in Mitcham, Ken has seen huge changes in the town centre and the way people shop.

He said that business in the past few years has declined as more people buy online or in larger shops.

 For the past 15 years he’s been the only person working in the shop six days a week.

Ken said: “I had a resurgence when Covid hit, we were allowed to stay open initially when all the big stores were closed. It reminded me of how it used to be. Going back, the shop was busy.

"People would come in with a big list of what they wanted to buy. People always had projects in those days, now that’s gone, people buy things ready made.

“Mitcham has changed dramatically, it used to be like a village, each shop did it’s own thing but one by one, bit by bit they went.

"I’ve hung on for years and years, it’s just me so I don’t need to make a lot of money. After being here for more than 50 years my family is saying I should retire.

"As I go now, I’m the oldest shop in Mitcham.”

Ken’s grandfather opened the original London Road shop just before World War 2 started.

Frank’s three daughters took on the running of the shop while he went to fight.

The Upper Green East shop was opened in 1964 and Ken took over in 1992 when his parents, Ken Snr and Eileen retired.

He said the shop is being bought by a neighbouring business but he is not sure what it will be in the future.

The shop owner added: “This is my whole life, it’s going to be strange for me.”