End of an era for Georges of Norwood

After more than 20 years in the retail game, a prominent Norwood business will close its doors for the final time at the end of May.

Cheryl Khabbaz, owner and manager of Georges of Norwood, says her decision to close the store is “bittersweet”. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier.

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After more than 20 years in the retail game, a prominent Norwood business will close its doors for the final time at the end of May.

Kitchen, home and giftware store Georges of Norwood, which started in the late 1990s in Queen St, will close after its owner of five years, Cheryl Khabbaz, made the “bittersweet” decision to retire.

She said a combination of her lease coming to an end, a lack of interest from potential buyers over the past 12 months and her diminishing excitement about running the business sounded the death knell for the “highly regarded, iconic” store.

“With the economic climate, we weren’t getting bowled over by interest (to buy) … so we decided it’s time to do something different,” said Mrs Khabbaz of the store that moved to The Parade in 2017.

“You can’t flog a dead horse, so to speak, we had minimal interest when we had it on the market.

“People are scared of retail now, it’s all doom and gloom.”

Cheryl Khabbaz, owner and manager of Georges of Norwood. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier.

Mrs Khabbaz, whose children also worked at Georges, said the store – which employs five people – had been lucky to have “excellent repeat customers”, but the rapidly expanding digital world had made retail tough.

“In retail there’s been a general downturn,” she said.

“A lot to do with online sales, that’s the main player that’s escalated things.

“People can reach far and wide very easily. To have something exclusive, it is not so much of a drawcard anymore.” She expected customers to be “devastated” by the closure, but said patronage had decreased by about 30 per cent in recent years.

“Sometimes you have to make the hard call,” she said.

“I don’t have the passion to work it for three more years.”

Mrs Khabbaz felt “bittersweet” emotions.

“I am absolutely busting (to go) … it would have been nice to continue, but it is what it is,” she said.

“It is sad but I don’t want to do something as a chore and the business suffers.”