William Bone to close five Premier Foreways convenience stores in Carlisle after nearly 40 years of operation.
William Bone will close all five of his Premier Foreways convenience stores in Carlisle, ending nearly 400 years of retail service to the community. The owner has appointed Armstrong Watson as liquidator to assist in placing the company into liquidation. The stores, located on Wigton Road, Bedford Road, Blackwell Road, Newlaithes Avenue, and Warwick Road, were the first Premier locations in the city. William Bone praised his staff and managers for being magnificent, while former employees and local residents expressed sadness over the closure of the much-loved corner shops. Although the stores were part of the national Premier franchise, William Bone maintained they were truly independent businesses. The decision to enter liquidation was described as a difficult one by William Bone. While the liquidator and William Bone were unable to provide specific next steps at this time, the closure marks the end of a long-standing retail presence in the city.