Ernest Roy Electricals for sale after shopkeeper decides to retire

Ernest Roy Electrical - which sells small electrical items from radios and telephones to clocks and speakers - was launched in Patrick Pool, near Shambles Market, by Ernest Roy in 1957.

Ken Devey said he and his wife Shirley took over the business 26 years ago, and they ran it together until Shirley fell ill, and he now felt it was time to retire.

Numerous shops have closed in York in recent times but Mr Devey said the business was profitable and he hoped someone would take it on as a going concern and keep it open.

Many retailers have complained in York about high rents and business rates making them unviable, sparking a series of shop closures which have caused great concern to residents, but Mr Devey said his shop was in a very small building and therefore these were lower.

He said there had been expressions of interest in buying the business but no one had as yet signed on the dotted line.

He said anyone interested in buying the business was welcome to come and chat to him about it, although they then needed to deal directly with estate agents Barry Crux.

He revealed that while he took over the business in 1993, the Ernest family continued to own the building.

He said a stream of customers calling in to the shop had said in recent times how sorry they were to see he was going.

"They've said I'm not allowed to go!" he said.

Barry Crux said the long established electricals business, which had an 'outstanding reputation' and was in an excellent location with its close proximity to both Shambles and Shambles Market, was for sale for a £15,000 lease. It said there was a ground floor sales area with first and second floor storage.