Southons of Salisbury store set to close after 119 years
Southons of Salisbury has announced it will close its Catherine Street furniture store following the retirement of managing director Chris Southon.
Founded in 1907, Southons has been a familiar part of Salisbury’s retail landscape for generations. The original store began trading on the corner of Dews Road and Fisherton Street before the business moved to Catherine Street in 1924. The premises were later extended and renovated in the late 1960s, becoming a fixture in the city centre.
Run as a family business since its beginnings, Southons has seen three generations of the Southon family involved over the decades, supplying Salisbury residents with high‑quality furniture and beds from many well‑known brands.
Now Chris has decided it is time to make the difficult decision to close the store, 119 years after his grandfather brought the business to life.
Chris said: "This is a very difficult and emotional decision to make, but with no succession and the increasing commercial pressures under which we are now operating, we have reluctantly concluded that this is the right time to bring down the curtain on our illustrious history.
"We are proud of our long and successful relationship with Salisbury and will continue to offer the best service to customers right to the very end.
Southons of Salisbury on Catherine Street (Image: Newsquest)
"There is so much history here, and we have had some fantastic loyal customers over the years, but it is the right time to move on."
The store will launch a closing-down sale, with display items and stock being sold off over the coming weeks. The sale will open to the general public on Friday, May 8.
The shop is then set to close by the end of June.
Chris has been at the forefront of the business for 40 years, and he has a small team working with him at the shop. They have each been involved for a long time themselves.
The business held a special celebration when it hit the 100-year milestone in 2007, and when asked if he had thought about the idea of waiting until the 120-year milestone, Chris said: "We have been around for 119 years as it is, and if we keep putting it off, we will just never close.
"Now feels like the right time, and it is nice to be able to go out on our terms."
