A POPULAR Old Town business will close its doors for the final time on Christmas Eve.

But regulars at Nine, in Wood Street, will still be able to shop on the store’s website which was launched in the summer.

The decision to take the business entirely online was not recession-related said owner Laura Hunt, but she admitted that trading conditions in Old Town are far from perfect.

The pedestrianisation of Wood Street, an hour’s free parking at Old Town car parks and more help given to independent businesses were all suggested by Laura, who has run the store for five years.

She said: “Because it’s just me running the shop and the website it made sense to devote myself to one or the other.

“The website has been doing really well and there are more things I would like to do with it so it seemed like the logical step. It’s a good business decision.

“Because we have been here for five years we have a lot of loyal customers who are going to follow us online.

“I’ve been amazed at how many of my customers are willing to try it, even the older ones.”

Plans for the future of the site include launching a fashion label and organising fashion shows.

Laura said she will miss the day to day contact with her customers but hoped that another independent business would take over the premises.

She said: “It would be good for Old Town. Independent businesses do have a hard time setting up, because of the pressure of the rents and the business rates.

“The first few years are very difficult and it would be nice if there was more support out there for them because they are so important.

“In Old Town it would be great to have those empty units filled with interesting, independent shops. Some of those buildings have been empty the whole time I’ve been here.”

Laura said there were a number of ways in which the shopping experience in Old Town could be improved.

She said: “It would be good to see Wood Street pedestrianised and an al fresco cafe culture emerging. That would be great for the area.

“The biggest factor is the parking – and that is from my customers not just me – we need an hour’s free parking in Old Town. The temporary reductions have had no effect at all.”

Nine’s last day of trading is Thursday, December 24. The website is www.ninefashion.com.