A butcher's shop in Huntingdonshire is closing this weekend due to staffing difficulties, with the owner unable to dedicate time to the shop away from his other businesses.
St Ives Quality Meats has been serving the town along Station Road, near the high street, for less than a year, but will shut for the last time after service tomorrow (Saturday, August 26) at 4pm.
Owner Jake Alsford has approached the Gilbert's Family Butchers, who have stores in St Neots, Buckden and Great Staughton, to take over the shop in the hope of keeping a butcher in the town.
Mr Alsford, who also runs J. S. Alsford & Co. Master Butchers in Sandy, said: "I've got companies elsewhere that I've put my heart into, whereas I've never had the time to put any sort of extra time or effort into St Ives, so I've decided to let it go."
Mr Alsford added that due to a lack of available staff, he would be required to work there himself or invest further money, which he lamented that he could not do.
READ MORE: Family furniture shop to close after 120 years
"I think St Ives is a fantastic town with great potential for a butcher. I really do believe that a butcher's shop will do really well there, but it needs someone to really put their purse or effort in, and that's just something I wish I had," he said.
'We're very excited to be able to move to St Ives'
The owner of Gilbert's Family Butchers confirmed that they would be moving into the store and expanding their business after Mr Alsford departs, however, an opening date has not yet been decided.
The owner, Andy Gilbert, said he currently has the same problem as Mr Alsford in that they are still looking for butchers but reassured the move "will be happening".
"We only opened in Buckden 11 weeks ago, so that's been the concentration at the moment," said Mr Gilbert.
READ MORE: Beer taproom in Huntingdonshire crowned region's best food and drink startup
"St Ives is the next store to open, we just need to get the manpower in place, get the right people in the right jobs, ready to move forward."
A job advertisement on Facebook said that "ideally," Gilbert's are looking to open the shop in October, and despite Mr Gilbert saying that the opening date is still "up in the air", he is "very excited" to get going.
"We've been looking at St Ives for a couple of years to branch out.
"We didn't want to step on anyone's toes, so when Jake [Mr Alsford] approached us, we were sad for him but at the same time very excited to be able to move to St Ives.
"It's an area we see as a real hotspot that could grow really well; it's crying out for just something.
"It has great parking facilities there, so there's no reason that shouldn't be a thriving shop."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here