LOCALS were left gutted after their beloved pet store will be closing down after more than five decades.
Whites Pet Centre, which has been trading at the high street in Sydenham, have been forced to close its doors amid the cost of living crisis.
Those living in the small pocket of South East London are outraged with the thought of another independent shop closing on their high street.
“We are a high street of betting shops and nail bars,” said a fuming customer as she left Whites.
“This is what makes Sydenham interesting.”
First opening its doors more than 50 years ago, Whites Pet Centre was a corn merchant selling pet food and quickly became the area’s go-to store for animal supplies.
But because of rising energy bills and the cost-of-living crisis, the popular pet shop will now close for good on September 30.
A picture on social media shows a note on the shop’s window on Sydenham Road titled: “Attention please! Use us or loose us!”
Shoppers reacted to the sad news on Facebook with one user commenting: “That is pretty sad, I do go in here for stuff for my cats now and again.”
Another said: “It may be cheaper to shop online but White’s carries much nicer items.
“I bought a beautiful copper bird feeder there bought a beautiful copper bird feeder there.”
Co-owner Diane Karn, 54, told MyLondon: “I’m really gutted, we never expected it to end like this.
“It was a very successful business, but over the years it has become such a struggle.
“I’ve had customers crying they’re going to miss us. We’re part of the community here.”
Diane started working with Whites 37 years ago as a youth training programme employee.
After the previous owner retired 24 years ago, she was offered the opportunity to purchase the company with coworker Liz Duck.
She then took on the role of manager.
Diane said that even though the company continued to be profitable for many years, issues arose in 2016 with the closure of the supermarket next door.
In the past few decades, when Whites operated as a Co-op, Budgens, and Somerfield, customers would frequently include a trip to Whites to pick up pet food after their shopping.
Diane added: “When we lost the supermarket people thought ‘what do I need to go to Sydenham for? I can just go to Sainsbury’s at Bell Green, where there’s a Pets at Home.’
“They don’t bother coming to us now because there’s free parking.”
The business owners claim that another factor contributing to their forced closure was Lewisham Council’s alleged lack of assistance.
A far larger charge for the frontage prevented them from placing kennels, hutches, and hay outside the store.
The store claims it was consequently forced to sell only a limited assortment of hay inside of it.
The Sun has contacted Lewisham Council for comment.
The Council reportedly said they would need to build an aviary the width of the store to maintain the popular parrot Rolie, so they moved it to a bird sanctuary, according to MyLondon.
“When the council say they want to help small businesses it’s all rubbish,” Diane said.
“They don’t care about us at all. Then they allow the same businesses to open up all the time.
“Goodness knows how many nail bars, chicken shops, takeaways, barbers and vape shops there are. It’s all the same thing, there’s no diversity to bring people here.”
Although supporting small establishments is at the core of its mission, Lewisham Council said the rise in high street rental costs is a contributing reason to the difficulties faced by so many independent businesses.
A spokesperson told MyLondon: “We are sad to learn of this business closing in Sydenham, which has provided services to the community.
“Our officers and local Councillors visited Whites on Tuesday, August 13 to hear their concerns, and take this feedback on board.
While the council has some influence on our high streets, the council does not have direct control on what businesses can open on our high streets.”
