The owner of a skateboarding store located in a 15th-century church has said he will start to "wind down" his business ahead of its closure in September.

Sam Avery initially opened The Drug Store in Pottergate but relocated to the St Peter Parmentergate Church in King Street when it underwent a refurbishment in 2022.

Mr Avery turned the church into a welcoming space for the skateboarding community with a ping pong table, lounge area and tuck shop.

Norwich Evening News: He will continue to be the director and coach of Community EastHe will continue to be the director and coach of Community East (Image: Denise Bradley)

He later became a director of Community East which operates an indoor skating facility within the church walls.

But now, after 18 years, Mr Avery has shared that the shop will be closing after this summer following a difficult post-Covid period.

"After much consideration, I have decided to wind down Drug Store over the summer," he said.

"Since Covid, it has become increasingly difficult to make ends meet and the stress has caused my health to take a turn for the worse.

"It’s been a long and strange journey running this place, from preventing a ban on street skating in the city centre to all the video premieres, comps, jams other fun and games.

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"Unfortunately this no longer translates into a financially viable business so it’s time to move on."

The skatepark will remain open as usual and Mr Avery will continue as a director and coach for Community East, which he said is already his main focus and he will have more energy for once the shop has closed.

Over the summer, a range of merchandise will be available and Mr Avery is asking any customers "who have the means" to pick one up to help "pay off my loan and start fresh".