Dunstable hardware store owner closes up shop after 33 years in town
The owner of a DIY shop in Dunstable has said goodbye to his customers for the final time after deciding to close the store for good.
For more than 30 years, Rajesh Shah has been a friendly face on High Street North, always on hand to help people with their DIY and hardware needs.
R&J Hardware closed earlier this month, after Raj decided to retire and spend more time with his family, especially his two young grandchildren.
The 63-year-old said: "There's more to life than working all your life.
“I did an apprenticeship at Vauxhall for five years and then 42 years in the hardware trade. I think I need to put my feet up now.”
With more people buying online, the shop was forced to adapt over the years. But Raj’s loyal customers were a constant throughout the decades.
He said: “The thing I’m going to miss most is the chats with the customers.
“We used to chat about cricket, the changes in Dunstable… health and what we shouldn’t be eating and what we should be eating.”
He plans to spend his time with his family in Luton, gardening and travelling with his wife later in the year.