Town stunned by closure of Montgomery’s

Shutters came down on the landmark restaurant complex at around 3.45pm yesterday, prompting rumours of problems which spread rapidly around the town’s business community.

Sadly, the worst case scenario was confirmed by an announcement on the Montgomery’s facebook site during the early evening.

Trading in Ballymena - first as Montgomery & Murdock Hardware - and latterly simply as Montgomery’s for 82 years, the announcement sent shock waves around the local social media network.

When the Ballymena Times shared the devastating ‘status announcment’ on our profile page, comments swiftly flowed in with most people expressing total surprise by the bad news.

Many of those commenting told how they had enjoyed a meal or afternoon coffee in the restaurant, which had established a superb reputation, only that afternoon.

And the contribution made by the family to charity and community work as hosts to the likes of Radio Cracker and various other good causes was not overlooked as post after post continued in the shocked vein. Others, not surprisingly, saw the announcement as yet further evidence of the drastic economic downturn which has wreaked havoc in the local retail sector.

In the past few weeks and months stores such as Peacocks, Jessops, Millets and many others have closed their doors.

For a town which prides itself as a retail services hub, the closure of the Montgomery’s operation is another blow which cannot be underestimated.

The Montgomery family stated: “It is with great regret and sadness that after 82 years, Montgomerys has ceased trading.

We would like to thank our staff for all their hard work and commitment over the years; it was down to them, that Montgomerys built up the reputation it did, and wish them every success in the future.

We would also like to thank all of our customers and friends who made coming to work a pleasure.”

Background: The firm traded as a hardware and general merchants for most of their history under the name of Montgomery & Murdoch but the direction of their town centre business changed radically in recent years firstly with the re-branding as simply Montgomery’s and a move towards the restaurant trade. The general merchant side of the business was moved to Cullybackey. It is understood that this sub-operation has also ceased trading.

To accomplish their major change in business emphasis, adjoining buildings were purchased and this at a time when property prices in the town centre were at enormous levels. This literally involved a complete revamp of a substantial section of Ballymoney Street in order to reconstruct the site as it is today.

See this week’s paper for further reaction and analysis.