A beloved menswear shop in Wellingborough is set to close its doors after an impressive 157 years of serving the local community. Warwicks of Wellingborough, which many believe to be the oldest retailer in Northamptonshire, will shut down on 28 June as current owner Neil Warwick prepares for retirement. At 61, Warwick explained that no family members are interested in continuing the business, prompting his decision to step away and enjoy a new chapter in life.
The store’s longevity, according to Warwick, has been due in large part to its commitment to inclusivity and adaptability. “We were never about one look or one age group,” he said. Warwick, a fifth-generation owner, grew up helping in the shop during school holidays and eventually committed to it full-time 41 years ago, having also worked part-time for five years prior. He now feels the time is right to move on from a business that has been interwoven with his life since childhood.
The shop was originally founded in 1868 by Warwick’s great-great-grandfather Samuel Warwick and has since been run by successive generations—Harry, Cyril, Alan (Neil’s father), and then Neil and his late brother David. David’s passing in 2019 made Neil reflect on the future, and he acknowledged that the business needs someone younger to lead it forward. “It really wants someone in their 30s to carry it on,” he said, adding that his own father worked until the age of 82, and his grandfather until 85.
Warwicks of Wellingborough has evolved over the decades. While it once produced its own suits, that practice ended in the 1960s when off-the-rack clothing gained popularity. The store also sold school uniforms, but this part of the business ceased about 15 years ago due to the rise of online shopping. Still, the shop managed to remain profitable and well-supported until now.
James Taylor, who worked in the store’s hire department, emphasized the value of personal service and long-standing customer relationships. He said he enjoyed building rapport with clients, many of whom returned over the years for formalwear rentals. “I’ve seen a few people get married a few times,” he joked, highlighting the human touch that defined the shop’s approach.
Among the many long-time customers is 93-year-old Ian Wood, who went to school with Neil Warwick’s father, Alan. Wood has been shopping at Warwicks since the 1930s, buying his school uniform and hiring his wedding suit there. He expressed sadness over the closure, calling it “a great loss to the town” and lamenting how the familiar corner—often referred to as “Warwick’s corner”—will look empty and forlorn.
Reflecting on the store’s place in history, Warwick said he is proud of what the business has endured. “Our business has seen Covid, the Suez Crisis, World War Two, World War One, Spanish flu and the Boer War, and we’ve still been here,” he remarked. While online shopping continues to dominate the retail landscape, Warwick believes that the experience of trying on a suit in person remains irreplaceable. The shop’s legacy, shaped by resilience, adaptability, and community loyalty, leaves a lasting mark on Wellingborough.
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