Refugease Vintage Emporium in Castle Street, Norwich closes

The Vintage Emporium store in Castle Street opened at the end of 2021, with profits heading to those in need from abroad or entering the country.

But recent economic issues facing the city have forced staff to close its doors.  

The cost of living crisis meant less people were donating, and the shop had to close (Image: RefugEase)

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In 2020, Rufugease opened its first Vintage Emporium in Tonbridge, Kent and were excited to see the empty shop in Norwich which they felt was the perfect place to expand, though it seems it wasn’t meant to be.  

A spokeswoman from Refugease, the company that operated the charity shop, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we were forced to close our Vintage Emporiums Norwich branch last month.  

“Our staff, volunteers and customers were wonderful to work with, and we really could not have asked for a better location - but we have a few external factors working against us.” 

The shop reported record-breaking trading when it first opened, selling items including clothing and vinyl records.

But the cost of living saw a steady decline in customers. 

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The Castle Street shop now sits empty (Image: Submitted)

The spokeswoman continued: “A dramatic fall in donations meant we had to make the hard decision to close our Norwich branch in order to spread out donations across our Kent-based branches, which is where the charity was founded. 

“People are more cautious about their spending, they are less likely to shop and donate, and instead, may choose to sell items online.  

“This is especially true given the rise of online selling apps, which have made it easier than ever to sell unwanted items.” 

For folk who still wish to support the work of Refugease, there is an online aid shop which can be found at refugease.org/aid-shop.