THE curtain is about to come down on one of the last few family-run businesses in Bromsgrove when the owner retires this spring.
John Vine, of Norman Vine Ltd, is retiring after being at the helm of the successful soft furnishings store in Worcester Road for close on half a century.
His father, Norman, originally owned a furnishing shop in Ross-on-Wye, but traded places with brother, Harvey, who owned the Bromsgrove store in 1932.
John, now 63 years old, bought the business from his father in 1977, although he had already worked there since he was 17.
John, who lives in Kenilworth, said: "I have worked for the business for nearly fifty years and I feel the time has come to retire.
"I will be very sad to leave Bromsgrove, I have got to know a lot of people over the years and I will miss them greatly.
"I would like to thank everyone who has been a customer."
The store will have a grand closing down sale in late spring.
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