David Skaith is to close his York shop at the end of this month.
The Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire opened his independent menswear store Winstons on Back Swinegate ten years ago.
Since being elected the region’s first mayor Mr Skaith has been a champion of independent traders, launching a £10 million High Street Fund last year.
But his own business, opened with the help of his father, will shut when its present lease ends.
“It’s been an incredibly difficult decision to make, but the space is no longer right and the business needs a lot of time and energy to take it to the next stage of its journey,” Mr Skaith said.
“To have stayed on Back Swinegate would have been an emotional decision – this is a business decision. Obviously, I’m quite busy at the moment giving my role as Mayor my all, and that has to be my priority right now.”
He said this has nothing to do with the hike in business rates that is causing so much pain to many indie traders, applied as part of the Labour government’s reforms.
“I know that some people will jump to the conclusion that this is to do with business rates, but just to be absolutely clear, we’ve always fallen under the threshold and business has been strong for us throughout the last five years.
“This is about what’s right for my business right now, nothing to do with policy.”
Before entering politics, Mr Skaith was chair of the York High Street Forum, which “works collectively to build and enhance our unique and vibrant high street”.
So his decision to close the shop will come as a big surprise to many other independent traders.
In a social media post, the Mayor said: “Winston’s has changed a lot since I opened it ten years ago. We’ve gone from selling other people’s clothes to our own, supporting independent designers along the way.
“I’m so grateful to all my customers, friends and family who have supported us over the past decade. And most importantly my staff, who have been incredible, especially over the last eighteen months since I stepped away from the business, you have been amazing.”
YorkMix has asked Mr Skaith how many jobs will be lost with the closure but we haven’t heard back yet.
