The owner of a popular store in West Cork has announced he's had to pull the reigns back and put his "business hat on".
Eddie Plyburn left his job at an NCT centre in 2018 to open The Vintage Room - going from something he "f***ing hated" to somewhere where he got to "channel his inner child".
The store, owned by "Vintage Eddie" as he was affectionally known, was one of the most interesting on Schull's main street and full of nostalgia triggers.
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Running a specialist business like this in a rural area was always going to be a challenge (along with that thing global pandemic that kicked off in 2020) - but nevertheless it was Eddie's passion and he didn't shy away from the challenge, Cork Beo reports.
He made a big effort to document his trips and love for antiques online through his Youtube and Instagram accounts and this proved really helpful as it let a lot of people know he was there.
But sadly, after five years, he's now called time on the shop and sent out a poignant message thanking every single person who helped keep it going.
Taking to his Instagram he said: "It's with a very very heavy heart I've decided to shut down The Vintage Room here on Main St in Schull.
"I've spent the last couple of days taking up stock and putting it away in boxes and as of now The Vintage Room is closed.
"The bricks and mortar side of it is closed.
"It's been an emotional couple of days for me, because this is me, The Vintage Room is me, and when you strip it back and empty it out it's a hard one to stand and look at.
"Coming up to nearly five years, we would've started on 30th of March 2018 and nearly made it.
"There were times we really could get it going and push it over the line but it wasn't to be.
"Without going into the whole story of it, for the last eight months going back to about September the business has collapsed. I'm making absolutely no money.
"There's only so long that you can sustain that for. I had to make the decision. Like every small business, rural business, family run business, in Ireland and probably cities at the moment, the storm clouds are gathering and people are fighting for their businesses."
The 52-year-old also runs Barnett's clothes shop across the road with his wife Miriam, and says he's now going to put his own focus back on that.
"I made a decision where after five years having all this fun I have to grow up I suppose. I've put on my businesses hat now and put my shoulder to the wheel to make sure Barnett's survives.
"I've had so much fun over the last five years, It's the kind of thing where you never want it to end but everything ends eventually.
"I want to thank every single person who has supported me. Every single person who has spent their hard earned money here with me here, who've come in or over the phone, you are the people that kept it going for the five years. There's no way I could've survived or kept it going for the five years without all of you and I'm eternally grateful for that.
"It was your money that got me off on all those wonderful shopping trips to antique fairs, it was your money that got me to Hungary on the buying trip, and all over the UK and Ireland."
Eddie thankfully said he's not going away, and poignantly has left an old western movie prop gun on the wall after stripping. He said he couldn't take it down as one young teen comes in every week to look at it in awe.
Although the doors won't be open he wanted to keep it there on display for him when he passes by.
After that he said he needs a bit of time to go and "lick my wounds, or as the Americans say get some mental real estate".
He added that he hopes to bring it back "a long time down the road" when he's closer to retiring and doesn't have as many responsibilities.
Those who want to keep supporting him can keep an eye on his Instagram and Youtube accounts which document his love for antiques and trips to different fairs - but for now he'll only be buying pieces for himself rather than the shop.
"It has been so much fun, it really has, I got to channel my inner child and buy the most maddest things."
Eddie later posted an update again thanking everyone for the lovely comments, and added he's not going away despite the closure. He's already posted a new clip to his Youtube and will be keeping his Instagram updated. He's promised to keep making videos and is hoping to do a "little bit of selling" on Ebay too.
Later this summer he'll be doing some fairs and collecting pieces which will be posted up to the channels and sold if people want them.
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