Beloved Edinburgh shop Ali's Cave to close after 40 years serving customers on Lothian Road

An Edinburgh shop that has served customers for more than 40 years is set to close this summer.

Ali’s Cave describes itself as a one-stop shop for everyday household items and DIY products.

Despite surviving a recession, the Covid pandemic and years of the cost of living crisis, the Edinburgh institution has made the decision to close in August.

Anwar Ulhaq opened the Lothian Road shop with his brothers in 1988 after seven successful years of trade on Edinburgh’s South Bridge.

Anwar son and co-owner Adnan Ulhaq said the decision to close was based on a drop in footfall.

“We very much relied on local community, local businesses and office worker, but the area has become a bit of a transient area where office workers are coming intermittently and a lot of the local community have probably moved out, so it’s left a lot of void spaces for us.

“Online has definitely had an impact but I think we’ve always focussed on what we’re doing.

“With our rates going up, with staff wages going up, with the national insurance impact, with the cost of living crisis, we couldn’t provide the service that we’ve always done, a true value for shop. So that’s what helped us make the decision of closing down.”

The news has come as a shock to many in the community, particularly those who avoid online shopping.

One customer, Jane, said: “I’m really going to miss them. I mean I just can’t be bothered with the internet, I’d rather come here, I get a laugh with the staff, what I need is actually here.”

Marketing Lecturer Dr Ashleigh McFarlane says the convenience of online shopping has created tough competition for local independent shops

The Edinburgh Napier University lecturer said: “It’s this ease of access and ease of obtaining products to their own home that puts people off leaving their home but I do really feel that it’s a shame to lose the local high streets.

“For a lot of people that person in the local shop might be the only interaction they have in a day and I think that the High Street have to work differently, more socially, to get people in and get people involved and the retailers really need to think about if they can’t invest in technology then what strategies will work for them.”

While the loss of Ali’s Cave will undoubtedly be felt across the community, they’re encouraging their loyal customers to keep shopping locally.

Adnan said: “If you don’t support local businesses, they won’t be there anymore. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.

“Thank you very much to all of our regular customers, to all the people who have popped in, you’ve made my father and myself very happy. We truly feel valued in Edinburgh.”

The shop will be having a half price sale from Monday in preparation for its closure in early August.