Commenting on the closure of Ballymena independent retailer McKillens after 100 years, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:
“This is extremely sad news. A well-respected, family-owned independent retailer has been forced to close its doors after 100 years of service to Ballymena.
“With another long-standing local trader, Wyse Byse, also closing, this represents a double blow for Ballymena town centre. Despite this, I have every confidence that Ballymena town centre and its fantastic traders will bounce back.
“This must be a wake-up call to government at all levels to get its act together on the growing cost-of-doing-business crisis that is afflicting our high streets.
“Northern Ireland now has 25% of its high street buildings lying derelict—twice the UK average. We urgently need a joined-up approach between the Executive and local councils to address this problem before irreparable damage is done to our towns and cities.”
