Father's Day will have extra meaning for Winmalee Newsagency proprietors Peter and Janet Furnell this year.
It will be the day they shut up shop after almost 18 years of serving their customers at Winmalee shopping centre, owned by the Coles Group.
The couple faced uncertainty over their shop's future in January when they received a notice from Coles to vacate the premises by September 4, but were then invited to participate in negotiations for a lease renewal.
After that process concluded, the Furnells opted out and agreed to stop trading at the end of Father's Day (September 6).
Mrs Furnell told the Gazette last Thursday they are no longer looking back.
"We've accepted it now and we'd just like to thank all our customers we've had for the last seventeen-and-a-half years," she said.
"It is sad to go, but it is all for the best.
"They (Coles) offered us a lease renewal, but in today's trading conditions it was too high for us - it just goes up and up."
Mrs Furnell said she'd probably look for part-time work "to keep up our finances and also keep me out of trouble".
"Peter is going to keep his part-time job with Blue Mountains Buses, doing morning and afternoon school runs.
"Our last day of trading will be Father's Day and we're doing a half-price sale [conditions apply] until then to try and clear remaining stock."
Winmalee Bakehouse has already closed - its last day of trading was August 16.
A note remaining on its counter includes a message of thanks to its customers - "our little family would like to say our final goodbye to everyone".
"Unfortunately we've had to close down and moved on. Thank you for your kindness and support in the past years."
