Two Bury St Edmunds shops which were home to Denny Bros Supplies Ltd on the market

Two shops which were home to a well-known arts supplies and stationery retailer are on the market.

Denny Bros Supplies Ltd ceased trading from its premises on the corner of St Andrew’s Street and Kings Road in Bury St Edmunds last April.

The business had been operating from there since 1960, initially housing its printing operation, and then from 1985 as a retail stationery and art and crafts shop, when it separated from its specialist printing business, which expanded and now has its factory on Suffolk Business Park.

However, bosses said the retail business became unviable, with competition from online sales, ever-rising costs and losses from shoplifting.

The two owners of the premises including Barry Denny have decided to put the two shops up for sale.

They comprise 50 St Andrew’s Street South, known as St Andrew’s Hall and built in Victorian times as a community hall, and ‘The Old Dairy’ on King’s Road corner, a building which was famously hit by an incendiary bomb from a Zeppelin air-ship raid on the town in 1916, in which the entire third storey was destroyed.

Each of the shops comprise two storeys, and are currently linked together, but could be separated, or redeveloped subject to planning permission.

Together the asking price will be offers above £550,000 with vacant possession and Eddisons is handling the sale.

The premises house shop fittings, including counters, cabinets, display stands and seating and there will be an opportunity for local businesses to purchase these units, with viewings being arranged for Wednesday and Thursday, June 25 and 26, from 2pm to 4.30pm.