Bracegirdle’s Glenelg store will close its doors after almost 18 years

The original Bracegirdle’s will close its doors after 18 years, with the owners saying Glenelg needs to “lift its game” and catch up to the rest of the state. Have your say.

Bracegirdle’s will close its original store after almost 18 years. Picture: Facebook

The original Bracegirdle’s House of Fine Chocolate at Glenelg will close its doors on Easter Monday after almost 18 years.

On Tuesday store owners Sue and Garry Bracegirdle took to Facebook to announce the closure “with a heavy heart”.

“We have enjoyed almost 18 years on Jetty Road, but the unfortunate increases in the cost of trading in this precinct mean it’s not feasible for us to keep the doors open,” the post read.

Ms Bracegirdle said the decision to close was based on the rent no longer being manageable.

“We just can’t afford it anymore,” she said.

The owner said the rent had “substantially increased” since they first opened their doors almost 18 years ago.

“It is really sad, it was our first store and we’ve had lots of memories – that’s where we first started to make our chocolate. There will be lots of tears.”

The chocolate shop owner said a decrease in foot traffic has also changed Glenelg’s “vibe”.

“It used to be really vibrant and busy,” she said.

“This is purely a personal opinion of my husband and myself, that something needs to happen at Glenelg. It needs to become the best in the state again.”

Ms Bracegirdle said she believed Glenelg needed a revamp to put the seaside town back on the map.

“Glenelg used to be the place to go,” Ms Bracegirdle said. “It just needs something big.”

But she said Bracegirdle’s time on Jetty Rd has allowed them to build a stream of busy staff and loyal customers.

Sue and Lucy Bracegirdle in the upstairs lounge at Glenelg. Picture: Denys Finney

Bracegirdle’s make their own chocolates at their Cross Rd store. Picture: Denys Finney

City of Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson told ABC radio on Wednesday morning that the vacancy rate along Jetty Rd is currently at seven per cent.

“The rents down on Jetty Rd can be quite expensive but there’s also a market for people to come into Glenelg,” she said.

The Mayor said they are currently working on a masterplan to upgrade the street.

“These are all things in the pipeline,” she said.

Ms Bracegirdle said she couldn’t believe the amount of responses they have received on Facebook since announcing the closure.

“It’s just incredible … we never would have thought that there were so many people that loved our store,” she said. “When you’re involved you don’t really realise it.”

Ms Bracegirdle said existing staff would be moved into their other stores at McLaren Vale, Blackwood and Clarence Gardens.

This comes almost five years after the closure of Bracegirdle’s in Toorak Gardens, which had been operating for 11 years.

At the time the business said they decided not to extend their lease because of parking issues.