One of Exeter's longest established independent businesses is preparing to close its city shop this week after 120 years of serving customers.
Roger Panter will be closing the doors to Panter & Son Ltd in Sidwell Street for the final time on Thursday, September 25.
A closing down sale is taking place at the bedding and household furnishings shop.
Roger said: "I would like to thank all our customers past and present for their support which they have given over the years."
He added: "It was a big decision to pull out of Exeter. I made my mind up last year.
"It is with great sadness that the decision was made to sell the Sidwell Street shop.
"It's a great regret, but our business rates in Exeter are £24,000. In Exmouth it's £6,000 and the shop is bigger and in a more prominent position."
Six staff are employed at the Exeter shop.
Roger said: "We are keeping as many as possible on to work on our internet side, which is a growing area for us."
One employee will be moving to the Exmouth branch, bringing the total staff there to five.
It was announced in May that Panters would be closing its Exeter branch at the end of the summer.
It has not yet been confirmed who will be taking over the premises.
The retailer will continue trading in Exmouth, Plymouth and online.
Panters has been trading in Sidwell Street since November 1894, when the original shop was opened by Roger's great-grandfather Samuel Charles Panter. It was destroyed in the Second World War but rebuilt and trade continued on the same site up to the present day.
Roger, 55, took over from his father in 1988 and continues to run the business. But with his sons Samuel and Lawrence enjoying successful careers in the Navy and engineering, he looks set to be the last generation to carry on the family business.
And while Roger hopes to have more free time after closing the Exeter shop, he has no intention of retiring any time soon.
The Exmouth branch will be offering a twice weekly delivery service into Exeter.
