A family’s relationship with the Keiller Centre in Dundee has come to an end after 43 years.
Lee Caswell says he is “gutted” to have pulled the shutter down on Lee’s Tees & Keys for the final time.
His family have had businesses in the shopping centre since 1979.
Lee’s mother and father, Roma and Peter Caswell, had the Key Centre before opening a video store.
The 50-year-old – who also runs another shop on Douglas Street – says he has been contemplating closing for the last year.
He said: “We’ve been here since day one. I was absolutely gutted on the last day of trading.
“There are so many happy memories of the centre from the glory days, particularly in 1980s and 1990s.
“Mum and dad opened the Key Centre when the Keiller Centre launched and they also had the Magic Eye Video Hire store.
“Mum had the video shop with her business partner June Stewart.
“I opened Lee’s Keys in the Wellgate Centre but I was too young and came back and worked with my dad.
“I went on the taxis but when dad retired to Spain over 14 years ago I opened up Lee’s Keys.”
While there are many happy memories for Lee’s family, he says there has been a “huge decline” in footfall.
‘All I’ve seen is grey shutters going down’
He said: “Particularly over the last year or so, all I’ve seen is grey shutters going down.
“There has been a huge decline in footfall as more businesses have left, including the arcade to Reform Street.
“We opened up another premises on Douglas Street around four years ago because we thought the centre was going to go then.
“We’ve sort of held on and held on, until now.”
There have been efforts to revive the Keiller Centre’s fortunes, including by Kathryn Rattray.
She opened a gallery in the centre earlier this year, aiming to “make the Keiller Centre great again“.
Lee added: “Kathryn is trying her best but the big issue the centre faces is there aren’t enough shops to bring people in.
“We had two football shops, two butchers and a cafe that are all long gone now.
‘New shops needed to change fortunes’
“They are really needing six shops to come in with a good variety to get people back in to change the fortunes.
“It’s been a tough decision for me to leave given all the history our family have here, but it was time.
“If things were to change, I wouldn’t rule out coming back, but in the meantime I will hopefully see my customers at the other store.”
Conversation