The Worcester toy shop will close its doors at the end of April after more than two decades trading on the city’s High Street.

Mark and Heather Stewart, owners of Wise Owl Toys, revealed the news yesterday in a statement which sparked hundreds of tributes from customers:

“We didn’t want to suddenly shut down, too great a shock for all of us, which is why we are announcing this now and we do hope that you will drop in and see us before we close. We have had a fantastic time over the past 20 plus years in our toy shop and have been greatly blessed with super customers, wonderful colleagues, supportive suppliers and their friendly reps. Thank you all so much for all your support and business throughout the years as, without you, we wouldn’t have survived twenty years on Worcester’s High Street.”

Wise Owl Toys opened 26 years ago, initially as a ‘Left Handed’ shop but for the last 21 years has also traded as a traditional, educational toy shop. Children visit the shop for specialist handwriting help as well as for inspiring and fun toys with an educational bias.

The pair have said they are to ‘semi-retire’ and will retain their Left n’ Write website to offer training and campaigning for left handed people across Worcester and beyond. Before then they will be holding a closing down sale before shutting up shop for the final time in April.

Toy World would like to wish Mark and Heather all the best for the future.