Casa Fina on Salisbury High Street to close after 40 years

Casa Fina, located in 62 High Street, is a unique gift shop specialising in home accessories which has been trading in Salisbury since 1983.

Owner of the business, Susi Mason, 58, announced that she will be retiring this summer.

She told the Journal: "After celebrating 40 years, it seemed a good time to finish."

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Originally from Essex, Susi's mother initially established Casa Fina in 1983, as a franchise.

Susi Mason, 58, will retire this summer (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

Susi said: "My mother widowed very young, and decided to go somewhere different. She fell in love with the Casa Fina shop in Surrey, which was a franchise back then.

"She travelled around the country to find the perfect location to have a shop of her own and decided Salisbury was just that.

"I used to help her now and then, then I went off to university and became a teacher, but I packed that in and came back to help in the shop, and haven't left since."

Eventually, the other Casa Fina stores across the country closed down, leaving Salisbury's as the only surviving independent business.

Susi said: "This shop is the last one standing, over the years we have adapted and listened to customers.

"For example, where we used to sell a lot of jackets and scarves, we decided to stick with what we are good at which is lighting and homeware, and household accessories.

'The last one standing' - Casa Fina in Salisbury will close in the summer (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

"The biggest change, which I think really helped, was social media and creating an online presence. During lockdown, we took social media a lot more seriously, and that helped us to get through it."

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After more than 40 years in the business, Susi is looking forward to a change of pace, and being able to have a a little bit of time to herself.

She said: "Anybody who works in retail knows it can be a slog. When you have done the same job for 40 years, it is time for a change.

"I think I've got the same list that everyone plans when they retire, I'll finally tidy the cupboards, and see my friends, I haven't thought too far ahead just yet.

Inside the popular shop (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

"Last year I missed out on the summer, so it will be nice to be out in the garden this year.

"I'll definitely give myself a few weeks off, and I am thinking about finding somewhere to work part time, I would really like to do some volunteer work, I am the kind of person who likes to keep busy."

There is no official closing date just yet, but Susi has revealed that the shop will continue to trade until the summer.

She said: "The good news is that another shop will be taking over the premises that Casa Fina occupies on the High Street, I didn't want to leave the place empty.

"As for a closing date, I will keep everybody posted. I'd like to thank everybody for all of the loving messages they have sent, people have grown up knowing the shop, and now they bring their own children here.

"The support everybody has for local businesses will help to keep the city vibrant."