AFTER 36 years of trading, Framearound – which has served generations of the same families - is closing its doors as the owner embarks on his retirement.
Leslie Cliff took the decision to close in the summer. After several months of completing framing requests for loyal customers and selling off artwork he will be closing up the business by the end of the month.
Les opened the business in 1985 inside Kwik Save, Farnworth, eventually moving to the current premises on Bank Street in 1999.
For his retirement Les is moving to Leicestershire with his wife Joanna so they can be nearer to their daughter Alison, who’s recently given birth to a son. Their other daughter Jennifer lives in Clifton.
Although he wanted to keep his framing machinery for a hobby, his family firmly put an end to the idea. Instead, he’s planning on rekindling his love of model railway, having previously had the largest model in Bolton.
The building is being developed into flats and a commercial premises.
Les said: “I’m looking forward to my retirement but sad that the business has had to implode in this way, it’s been my baby for the past 36 years.
“I’ve had lots of goodwill messages from customers as well as other business wishing me the best, it puts a lump in my throat to know how much Framearound means to them.
“Of course I’m joined with my business partner, Monty our 13-year-old rescue dog, he’s loved being the shop, although when one customer gives him biscuits he seems to think they all will.
“As we are moving to Leicestershire it is very much a fresh start, I’m looking forward setting up my model railway again which I used to keep in the basement of the shop.
“Running a business in Bolton hasn’t been easy, I’d always planned on retiring at 65 so it’s difficult to say if Covid would have finished it off if I’d continued the business.
“I’ve survived three recessions and I’m managing to get out before the fourth one, it’s been an achievement to last this long."
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