A Royal Mile souvenir shop trading for almost a decade is to close and become a ‘doughnut takeaway.’
Cranachan & Crowdie opened in 2012 on the capital’s Royal Mile and was founded by couple Fiona and Beth McEwan.
But after a tough time for tourism in the pandemic coincided with their plans for retirement, they have decided to shut up shop.
Beth, 62 told Edinburgh Live that she and her wife ‘adored’ having the Scottish Food, Drink & Gifts shop on the Royal Mile, but added that the location has become ‘a bit of a sad place’ since the pandemic hit.
They had hoped to find a buyer that would want to carry on their legacy of selling items that are made in Scotland, but instead, the shop is to be turned into ‘an ice cream and donut takeaway.’
Beth told Edinburgh Live: “To be honest without foreign visitors the Royal Mile is desperately sad.
“We love British shoppers but they’re not big souvenir shoppers.
“Our sale is expected to be completed by August 1 and converted into a doughnut and ice cream takeaway.”
After running the business just shy of ten years, Beth is looking forward to retiring with her partner Fiona, 65.
Beth added: “My partner and I founded C&C together.
“We were already thinking about retiring before the pandemic.
“We adore the Royal Mile and loved that we were right in the middle of Scotland’s busiest tourism area, we wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.
“The Royal Mile needs more different kinds of shops and not just the same four shops over and over again.
“There’s little diversity and yet the shops close to the castle make a killing and the further you walk towards the Palace the harder it is to make a living.”
The store is offering 20 per cent off everything.
