Southons of Salisbury to close Catherine Street store after 119 years

Southons of Salisbury will close its Catherine Street furniture store after 119 years, ending a run that began in 1907. Managing director Chris Southon said he is retiring and that there is no succession to carry the business on.

The closing-down sale will open to the general public on Friday, May 8, with display items and stock sold off over the coming weeks. The shop is set to close by the end of July, and work will continue after that to clear stock and complete orders.

Chris Southon retirement

Southon said the decision came after weighing the business against the family succession issue and rising commercial pressures. “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.”

He added: “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.” Southon also said: “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.”

Catherine Street history

The business was founded in 1907 on the corner of Dews Road and Fisherton Street before moving to Catherine Street in 1924. The premises were extended and renovated in the late 1960s, and three generations of the Southon family have been involved over the decades.

That history makes the closure more than a routine retail change for Salisbury shoppers who have bought furniture and beds from the store for years. The sale gives customers a final chance to buy from the shop before the stock is cleared and orders are finished after the closure date.

Sale to July

For customers, the immediate change is straightforward: the store will keep trading through the sale period, then wind down at the end of July. Anyone planning to buy from Southons before it closes will need to do so during the closing-down sale, while the shop remains open to process remaining stock and orders.