ONE of Huddersfield’s oldest businesses is to shut.
Tomorrow will be the final day of trading for Thatcher’s Furnishings – bringing to an end more than 70 years of the family firm.
The sad move means the loss of 20 jobs after “strenuous” efforts to sell the Dundas Street business failed.
Administrators were appointed to the business on September 22. Since then a discounted sale of stock has been going on alongside efforts to market the business to potential buyers.
But administrator Peter Sargent, of insolvency firm Begbies Traynor, said no acceptable offer had been received and it was no longer commercially viable to continue trading.
He said: “While more than a dozen expressions of interest have been received, none were formalised to acceptable offers.
“I remain hopeful that I might secure a sale of the intellectual property, including the name which may yet remain.”
Mr Sargent said agents Walker Singleton had been instructed to sell the firm’s property and to realise the remaining assets of the business.
He said: “This is likely to lead to an auction sale of the cafe equipment and other fixtures and fittings, together with any remaining stock.”
The building – founded in 1940 – includes six showrooms over three floors as well as a top-floor coffee shop.
