Harrisons of Armidale, a high-quality gift and jewellery retailer, will close on June 8 after seven years in town, while Best & Less in East Mall will close tomorrow.

Harrisons co-owner Paul Harrison said the decision to close and move the store to Newcastle was made reluctantly, but based on “pure economics”.

He said the nationwide downturn in retail spending and increase in online shopping was compounded by the creation of new shopping centres in town.

“The introduction of Centro and extension work to Richardsons Arcade means that the Armidale dollar has been spread further,” he said.

The high price of rent in the Mall was also blamed for the closure.

Mr Harrison and store co-owner Linda Harrison attempted to negotiate lower rent with their building owner, but were unsuccessful.

“Armidale’s population of around 20,000 cannot support Sydney-priced rents, and this is reflected in the empty shops,” Mr Harrison said.

“This in turn has a domino effect in attracting less potential visitors to make a tree-change, particularly when they see empty shops and an empty Mall.”

A Best & Less spokesperson said it was no longer viable for the store to continue operating in town.

“The decision to close the store was made reluctantly, but it simply wasn’t viable to continue operating,” the spokeperson said.

“We’re a rapidly expanding company, and any closure is made very reluctantly. But Armidale will always be on our radar if a suitable location is found in future.”

The closure of local businesses has outraged some residents. Concerned resident Andrea Watson expressed her dismay at the closures in a letter to The Express this week.

“We don’t have a lot of shops of the calibre of Harrisons and it is a great pity that Council isn’t doing more to attract people back to the Mall and make it the hub that it once was, instead of it fast becoming a windswept wasteland,” she wrote.

“Surely empty shops are not productive for either Council or landlords, so why not see the obvious writing on the wall and negotiate some rates and rentals that serve as a compromise?”

Council’s general manager Shane Burns said rental prices needed to better reflect the

current economic situation.

“Retail business is suffering from a lack of confidence in the community in what are uncertain economic times,” Mr Burns said.

“Feedback from businesses in the Mall has echoed this concern, with property owners unwilling to accept lower rentals to reflect the economic decline and in turn assist businesses through these difficult times.”

He said Council was in the process of developing a strategy with the Armidale Business Chamber, CBD property owners and businesses in order to prevent further closures.

“Property owners in Sydney have recognised the threats and are realising the need to review the levels of rents,” Mr Burns said.

“They have recognised the threats and decided some rent is better than none.”

Mr Harrison said his family would be “leaving behind a community we love”, but urged consumers to buy locally where possible to support struggling retailers.

“Instead of buying a bottle of wine online, spend your

dollars in town,” he said.

“At least you are helping to keep someone employed.”