They said it was an easy decision in the end
The shop will close for good on New Years Day
A famous family run shop in Mayo has closed its doors after 50 years in business.
John O’Brien Mens’ and Boys’ Wear store on Bridge Street is set to close its doors for good on New Years Day.
An offer from The Mariner Hotel to buy the building convinced owners Conor and Susan O’Brien that it was time to move on.
The decision to sell was an easy one they said, due to realising that the business was not improving.
Speaking to The Mayo News, Susan said: “It’s time for us to change now. There’s no use changing in ten or fifteen years time. We’re young enough to change and embrace it.
“I’m really looking forward to it and we’ve got a nice cushion behind us, so we may as well take the opportunity and run.”
“We can start living a bit now.”
The couple lived above the shop with their three children for twenty years.
Conor said that his favourite part of the day was when they would all come home from school.
He said: “You’d look forward to seeing them come home.
“It was a nice experience being able to work and see your kids as well at the same time.
“They’d pop down if they needed help with anything, or they might bring something down to me and you could always run up and see them doing their homework”
Conor added that he would not encourage his children to follow in his footsteps.
He said: “I wouldn’t like to put them into this. If they were interested, I’d actually talk them out of it. Having to go into retail, it’s just too hard.
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“You won’t make enough money to buy a house or anything like that.
“They’re well educated and they’re going into professional careers.
“That’s where I point them to anyway, because retail is just long hours with little reward.”
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