Spex4Less closes St Helens shop and relocates to Ormskirk

Owner of Spex4Less, Brett Millard, said the eyewear shop was “saddened” to be leaving his hometown to signal the end of an era.

The shop, run by Brett and wife Carol, has relocated to Ormskirk to begin its next chapter.

Spex4Less' new premises in Ormskirk (Image: Submitted)

Brett said that footfall at the St Helens store has plummeted since the council’s purchase of the nearby Hardshaw Centre, which closed earlier this month.

Shops in the Hardshaw Centre have been relocated and it closed its doors for the final time on August 3, ahead of its demolition under phase one of St Helens’ regeneration plans.

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Brett said that operating the business at the Bickerstaffe Street premises once the regeneration works have started would be “unsustainable”.

Brett’s parents launched the business more than 40 years ago, and upon their retirement, he and Carol took over and rebranded it as Spex4Less.

Spex4Less has closed the St Helens shop and relocated to Ormskirk (Image: Submitted)

Owner Brett Millard said: “We are saddened to leave the town but since St Helens Council has purchased the Hardshaw Shopping Centre and closed it down ready for demolition we now have zero footfall and once building regeneration work starts it will be unsustainable to run a business in the middle of a building site for the next couple of years."

He added: “(Myself) and Carol would like to thank all the thousands of customers that have attended Spex4Less over the years.

“Their custom has been greatly appreciated. We are only a short car drive away and hopefully look forward to seeing you all soon.”